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Interchangeable vs Interchange - What's the difference?

interchangeable | interchange |

As an adjective interchangeable

is freely substitutable may be swapped at will.

As a verb interchange is

to switch (each of two things).

As a noun interchange is

an act of interchanging.

interchangeable

English

Adjective

(-)
  • Freely substitutable. May be swapped at will.
  • Eli Whitney's development of interchangeable parts was a breakthrough for modern manufacturing. Prior to that each part had to be made custom.
  • * 2014 , Ian Jack, " Is this the end of Britishness", The Guardian , 16 September 2014:
  • The English, until relatively recently, seem to have imagined “English” and “British” to be interchangeable , as if Britain was just a bigger England.

    Derived terms

    * interchangeably

    interchange

    English

    Verb

    (interchang)
  • to switch (each of two things)
  • to interchange places
  • to mutually give and receive (something); to exchange
  • * Shakespeare
  • I shall interchange / My waned state for Henry's regal crown.
  • to swap or change places
  • to alternate; to intermingle or vary
  • to interchange cares with pleasures

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An act of interchanging.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=October 29 , author=Neil Johnston , title=Norwich 3 - 3 Blackburn , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=That was one of three superb saves Hennessey made in the opening 45 minutes, the best of which was from Dzeko, who had been released by a slick interchange involving Silva and Sergio Aguero.}}
  • A highway junction in which traffic may change from one road to another without crossing a stream of traffic.
  • (rail transport) A connection between two or more lines, services or modes of transport; a station at which such a connection can be made.
  • Holborn tube station is the only interchange between the London Underground Central and Piccadilly Lines

    Usage notes

    Generally the rail transport sense of "interchange" applies to connections within the same station, or from two close-by stations. Sometimes, especially within the context of public transport in London, "interchange" is restricted to within-station connections only with (outerchange) used for those that involve leaving the station.

    Antonyms

    * (rail transport) outerchange