n. the capital of the ancient Chinese empire.
Syn. -- Sian, Singan, Xian. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ F. change, fr. changer. See Change. v. t. ] 1. Any variation or alteration; a passing from one state or form to another; as, a change of countenance; a change of habits or principles. [ 1913 Webster ]

Apprehensions of a change of dynasty. Hallam. [ 1913 Webster ]

All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Job xiv. 14. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A succesion or substitution of one thing in the place of another; a difference; novelty; variety; as, a change of seasons. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our fathers did for change to France repair. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

The ringing grooves of change. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A passing from one phase to another; as, a change of the moon. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Alteration in the order of a series; permutation. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. That which makes a variety, or may be substituted for another. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thirty change (R.V. changes) of garments. Judg. xiv. 12. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Small money; the money by means of which the larger coins and bank bills are made available in small dealings; hence, the balance returned when payment is tendered by a coin or note exceeding the sum due. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. [ See Exchange. ] A place where merchants and others meet to transact business; a building appropriated for mercantile transactions. [ Colloq. for Exchange. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

8. A public house; an alehouse. [ Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

They call an alehouse a change. Burt. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. (Mus.) Any order in which a number of bells are struck, other than that of the diatonic scale. [ 1913 Webster ]

Four bells admit twenty-four changes in ringing. Holder. [ 1913 Webster ]

Change of life, the period in the life of a woman when menstruation and the capacity for conception cease, usually occurring between forty-five and fifty years of age. --
Change ringing, the continual production, without repetition, of changes on bells, See def. 9. above. --
Change wheel (Mech.), one of a set of wheels of different sizes and number of teeth, that may be changed or substituted one for another in machinery, to produce a different but definite rate of angular velocity in an axis, as in cutting screws, gear, etc. --
To ring the changes on, to present the same facts or arguments in variety of ways.

Syn. -- Variety; variation; alteration; mutation; transition; vicissitude; innovation; novelty; transmutation; revolution; reverse. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Changed p. pr. & vb. n. Changing. ] [ F. changer, fr. LL. cambiare, to exchange, barter, L. cambire. Cf. Cambial. ] 1. To alter; to make different; to cause to pass from one state to another; as, to change the position, character, or appearance of a thing; to change the countenance. [ 1913 Webster ]

Therefore will I change their glory into shame. Hosea. iv. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To alter by substituting something else for, or by giving up for something else; as, to change the clothes; to change one's occupation; to change one's intention. [ 1913 Webster ]

They that do change old love for new,
Pray gods, they change for worse! Peele. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To give and take reciprocally; to exchange; -- followed by with; as, to change place, or hats, or money, with another. [ 1913 Webster ]

Look upon those thousands with whom thou wouldst not, for any interest, change thy fortune and condition. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Specifically: To give, or receive, smaller denominations of money (technically called change) for; as, to change a gold coin or a bank bill. [ 1913 Webster ]

He pulled out a thirty-pound note and bid me change it. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

To change a horse, or To change hand (Man.), to turn or bear the horse's head from one hand to the other, from the left to right, or from the right to the left. --
To change hands, to change owners. --
To change one's tune, to become less confident or boastful. [ Colloq. ] --
To change step, to take a break in the regular succession of steps, in marching or walking, as by bringing the hollow of one foot against the heel of the other, and then stepping off with the foot which is in advance.

Syn. -- To alter; vary; deviate; substitute; innovate; diversify; shift; veer; turn. See Alter. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To be altered; to undergo variation; as, men sometimes change for the better. [ 1913 Webster ]

For I am Lord, I change not. Mal. iii. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To pass from one phase to another; as, the moon changes to-morrow night. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Changeableness. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. changeable. ] 1. Capable of change; subject to alteration; mutable; variable; fickle; inconstant; as, a changeable humor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Appearing different, as in color, in different lights, or under different circumstances; as, changeable silk.

Syn. -- Mutable; alterable; variable; inconstant; fitful; vacillating; capricious; fickle; unstable; unsteady; unsettled; wavering; erratic; giddy; volatile. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being changeable; fickleness; inconstancy; mutability. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a changeable manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Full of change; mutable; inconstant; fickle; uncertain. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

His course had been changeful. Motley.

-- Change"ful*ly, adv. -- Change"ful*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Mach.) A gear by means of which the speed of machinery or of a vehicle may be changed while that of the propelling engine or motor remains constant; -- called also
change-speed gear. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]