glut: There's a glut of agricultural products in Western Europe.
surplus: Germany suffers from a surplus of teachers.
e x|cess ba g|gage also excess luggage
1 N‑UNCOUNT On an aeroplane journey, excess baggage is luggage that is larger or weighs more than your ticket allows, so that you have to pay extra to take it on board.
2 N‑UNCOUNT You can use excess baggage to talk about problems or events from someone's past which you think still worry them, especially when you think these things make it difficult for the person to cope or develop. □ These younger players are not carrying any excess baggage from less successful times.
ex|ces|sive / I kse s I v/ ADJ If you describe the amount or level of something as excessive , you disapprove of it because it is more or higher than is necessary or reasonable. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …the alleged use of excessive force by police. □ The government says that local authority spending is excessive. ● ex|ces|sive|ly ADV [ADV adj, ADV with v] □ Managers are also accused of paying themselves excessively high salaries. □ Mum had started taking pills and drinking excessively.
ex|change ◆◆◇ / I kstʃe I ndʒ/ (exchanges , exchanging , exchanged )
1 VERB If two or more people exchange things of a particular kind, they give them to each other at the same time. □ [V n] We exchanged addresses and Christmas cards. □ [V n + with ] He exchanged a quick smile with her then entered the lift. ● N‑COUNT Exchange is also a noun. □ [+ of ] He ruled out any exchange of prisoners with the militants. □ [+ of ] …a frank exchange of views.
2 VERB If you exchange something, you replace it with a different thing, especially something that is better or more satisfactory. □ [V n] …the chance to sell back or exchange goods. □ [V n + for ] If the car you have leased is clearly unsatisfactory, you can always exchange it for another.
3 N‑COUNT An exchange is a brief conversation, usually an angry one. [FORMAL ] □ [+between ] There've been some bitter exchanges between the two groups.
4 N‑COUNT An exchange of fire, for example, is an incident in which people use guns or missiles against each other. □ [+ of ] There was an exchange of fire during which the gunman was wounded.
5 N‑COUNT [usu adj N ] An exchange is an arrangement in which people from two different countries visit each other's country, to strengthen links between them. □ [+with ] …a series of sporting and cultural exchanges with Seoul. □ I'm going to go on an exchange visit to Paris.
6 N‑COUNT The exchange is the same as the telephone exchange .
7 → see also corn exchange , foreign exchange , stock exchange
8 PHRASE If you do or give something in exchange for something else, you do it or give it in order to get that thing. □ It is illegal for public officials to solicit gifts or money in exchange for favors. SYNONYMS exchange VERB 1
swap: Some hostages were swapped for convicted prisoners.
trade: They traded land for goods and money.
switch: In half an hour, they'd switched the tags on every cable.
barter: They have been bartering wheat for cotton and timber.
ex|cha nge rate ◆◇◇ (exchange rates ) N‑COUNT The exchange rate of a country's unit of currency is the amount of another country's currency that you get in exchange for it.
Ex|cheq|uer / I kstʃe kə r / N‑PROPER The Exchequer is the department in the British government which is responsible for receiving, issuing, and accounting for money belonging to the state.
ex|cise /e ksa I z/ (excises , excising , excised ) The noun is pronounced /e ksa I z/. The verb is pronounced / I ksa I z/. 1 N‑VAR [usu N n] Excise is a tax that the government of a country puts on particular goods, such as cigarettes and alcoholic drinks, which are produced for sale in its own country. □ …this year's rise in excise duties. □ New car buyers will be hit by increases in taxes and excise.
2 VERB If someone excises something, they remove it deliberately and completely. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] …a personal crusade to excise racist and sexist references in newspapers. □ [V n + from ] …the question of permanently excising madness from the world. ● ex|ci|sion / I ks I ʒən/ (excisions ) N‑VAR □ [+ of ] The authors demanded excision of foreign words.
ex|cit|able / I ksa I təb ə l/ ADJ If you describe someone as excitable , you mean that they behave in a rather nervous way and become excited very easily. □ Mary sat beside Elaine, who today seemed excitable. ● ex|cit|abil|ity / I ksa I təb I l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ She has always been inclined to excitability.
ex|cite / I ksa I t/ (excites , exciting , excited )
1 VERB If something excites you, it makes you feel very happy, eager, or enthusiastic. □ [V n] I only take on work that excites me, even if it means turning down lots of money. □ [V ] Where the show really excites is in the display of avant-garde photography.
2 VERB If something excites a particular feeling, emotion, or reaction in someone, it causes them to experience it. □ [V n] Daniel's early exposure to motor racing did not excite his interest.
ex|cit|ed ◆◇◇ / I ksa I t I d/
1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are excited , you are so happy that you cannot relax, especially because you are thinking about something pleasant that is going to happen to you. □ [+ about ] I'm very excited about the possibility of playing for England's first team. □ I was so excited when I went to sign the paperwork I could hardly write. ● ex|cit|ed|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ 'You're coming?' he said excitedly. 'That's fantastic! That's incredible!'