[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/change.html) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/) / change [← C](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/C/) # change «change» in Mova's school dictionary: **to make something different, or to become different** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it. ### part of speech noun (change, a change, changes; change = coins — uncountable); verb (change, changes, changed, changing) ### meaning for a pupil 1) To change is to make something different, or to become different. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/change/#m1) 2) A change is a time when something becomes different. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/change/#m2) 3) Change is the money you get back when you pay more than the price. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/change/#m3) 4) Change is also coins, like loose change in your pocket. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/change/#m4) 5) To change clothes is to take some off and put others on. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/change/#m5) 6) To change trains or buses is to get off one and onto another. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/change/#m6) 7) (casual) «Keep the change», «got any change?», «spare change?» are about money; «that makes a change» (often sarcastic) means that is unusual. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/change/#m7) 8) (casual, rude) «Change the record» (UK) means stop saying the same thing; «you'll never change» can be a complaint. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/change/#m8) 9) (euphemism) «The change» (old) means the time when a woman stops having periods; «a change of role» or «restructuring» may mean losing a job. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/change/#m9) 10) (formal) Exams say «alter», «modify», «vary», «transform», «the variation», «the net change», «the increment», «the decrement» and «the balance tendered». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/change/#m10) ### sense in the lessons maths: money back after paying (change = money paid − price); also how much something grows or shrinks, the difference between the old and the new amount; science: changes of state (ice melts into water), changes in the weather and the seasons; everyday life: change clothes, change your mind, change a light bulb, a change of plan; stories: a character changes and learns; phrases: «for a change», «change your mind», «small change», «keep the change»; in casual talk «got any change?», «that makes a change», «quick change»; in rough talk «change the bloody record», «you'll never change»; in the exam voice «compute the change due to the purchaser», «the net change», «the variation in temperature» ### examples - She paid 10 dollars for a 7-dollar book. What is her change? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/change/#x1) - The temperature changed by 5 degrees. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/change/#x2) - He has 2 dollars in change. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/change/#x3) - Leaves change colour in the fall. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/change/#x4) - Please change into your PE clothes. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/change/#x5) - We changed buses at the station. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/change/#x6) - Ice changes into water when it melts. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/change/#x7) - She changed her mind and picked the blue one. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/change/#x8) - Let's eat outside for a change. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/change/#x9) - Here's a tenner, keep the change. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/change/#x10) - You're on time, that makes a change! [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/change/#x11) - A purchaser tenders 10 dollars for an article priced at 7 dollars. Compute the change due. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/change/#x12) - Really I've no change just now." [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/change/#x13) ### note Change back = money paid − cost. Trap: «change» alone may also mean coins, or the difference between two amounts. «Change» as money has no plural: «some change», not «changes». «A change in temperature» is new − old; if it went down, the change is a fall, not a rise. «tenders 10 dollars» in an exam means pays with 10 dollars; «the change due» is what you get back. «keep the change» means the change is a gift. ### In the corpora - [Shops, hospitals, buses and factories need people at all hours, so their workers follow a rota that can change every week.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/2-shifts-nights-and-other-ways-of-working/1/) - [A newborn baby changes a whole house.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/19-a-new-baby-in-the-house/0/) - [Babies wear nappies, which are changed six to ten times a day, and nappy cream stops sore skin.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/19-a-new-baby-in-the-house/16/) - [When people want something changed, they can protest peacefully, sign a petition, or stop work together in a strike.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/32-bad-news-protests-and-helping-others/4/) - [Rules and laws are shared agreements; people follow them even when they dislike them, and change bad ones through proper ways.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/33-neighbours-the-council-rules-and-fairness/17/) ### Trees and pragmatics [Every meaning and example of «change» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/change/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.