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substitution

 - 8 dictionary results

sub⋅sti⋅tute

  [suhb-sti-toot, -tyoot] noun, verb, -tut⋅ed, -tut⋅ing, adjective
Use substitution in a Sentence
–noun
1. a person or thing acting or serving in place of another.
2. (formerly) a person who, for payment, served in an army or navy in the place of a conscript.
3. Grammar. a word that functions as a replacement for any member of a class of words or constructions, as do in He doesn't know but I do.
–verb (used with object)
4. to put (a person or thing) in the place of another.
5. to take the place of; replace.
6. Chemistry. to replace (one or more elements or groups in a compound) by other elements or groups.
–verb (used without object)
7. to act as a substitute.
–adjective
8. of or pertaining to a substitute or substitutes.
9. composed of substitutes.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < L substitūtus (ptp. of substituere to put in place of), equiv. to sub- sub- + -stitū-, comb. form of statū-, ptp. s. of statuere (see substituent ) + -tus ptp. suffix

Related forms:
sub⋅sti⋅tut⋅a⋅ble, adjective
sub⋅sti⋅tut⋅a⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, noun
sub⋅sti⋅tut⋅er, noun
sub⋅sti⋅tut⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
sub⋅sti⋅tu⋅tion, noun
sub⋅sti⋅tu⋅tion⋅al, sub⋅sti⋅tu⋅tion⋅ar⋅y  [suhb-sti-too-shuh-ner-ee, -tyoo-] , adjective
sub⋅sti⋅tu⋅tion⋅al⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. alternative, replacement, equivalent.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To substitution
sub·sti·tu·tion   (sŭb'stĭ-tōō'shən, -tyōō'-)   
n.  

    1. The act or an instance of substituting.

    2. The state of being substituted.

  2. One that is substituted; a replacement.

sub'sti·tu'tion·al, sub'sti·tu'tion·ar'y adj., sub'sti·tu'tion·al·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

substitution 
1390, from M.Fr. substitution, from L.L. substitutionem (nom. substitutio) "a putting in place of another," from L. substitutus, pp. of substituere "put in place of another, place under or next to," from sub "under" + statuere "set up." Substitute (v.) is first recorded 1532 in transitive sense, 1888 as intransitive. The noun is first attested c.1400; sports sense is from 1849.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Financial Dictionary

substitute

See swap.

Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms by David L. Scott.
Copyright © 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: sub·sti·tu·tion
Pronunciation: "s&b-st&-'tü-sh&n, -'tyü-
Function: noun
: the substituting of one person or thing for another: as a in the civil law of Louisiana : a disposition not in trust by which a donee, heir, or legatee is charged to hold property transferred and return it to a third person —compare FIDEI COMMISSUM, VULGAR SUBSTITUTION
NOTE: Substitutions are prohibited. b : replacement of a party to an action with a successor or representative upon motion to the court when the party is unable to continue litigating (as because of death, incompetency, transfer of interest, or loss of the office for which the party was suing or being sued in an official capacity) c : the replacement of a new agreement or obligation for an old one —see also NOVATION —sub·sti·tu·tion·al /-sh&-n&l/ noun —sub·sti·tu·tion·ary /-sh&-"n&r-E/ adjective
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 2substitute
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: -tut·ed; -tut·ing
: to put or use in the place of another:as a : to introduce (an atom or group) as a substituent b : to alter (as a compound) by introduction of a substituent

Main Entry: sub·sti·tu·tion
Pronunciation: "s&b-st&-'t(y)ü-sh&n
Function: noun
1 : a chemical reaction in whichone or more atoms or groups in a molecule are replaced by equivalent atoms or groups to form at least two products; especially : the replacement of hydrogen in an organic compound byanother element or group
2 a : the turning from an obstructed desire to another desire whose gratification is socially acceptable b : the turning from anobstructed form of behavior to a different and often more primitive expression of the same tendency substitution neurosis> c : the reacting to each of a set of stimuliby a response prescribed in a key substitution test for speed of learning new responses>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

substitution sub·sti·tu·tion (sŭb'stĭ-t&oomacr;'shən, -ty&oomacr;'-)
n.

  1. The replacement of an atom or group of atoms in a compound by another atom or group of atoms.

  2. An unconscious defense mechanism by which the unacceptable or unattainable is replaced by something more acceptable or attainable.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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