commutation Hear it!

commutation definition

com·mu·ta·tion (käm′yə tā′s̸hən)

noun

  1. an exchange; substitution
    1. the substitution of one kind of payment for another
    2. the payment made
  3. ☆ the act of traveling as a commuter, esp. by using a commutation ticket
  4. Elec. the repeated reversal of the direction of a current by a commutator
  5. Law a change of a sentence or punishment to one that is less severe

Etymology: ME & OFr commutacion < L commutatio, a changing < commutatus, pp. of commutare, commute

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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