substitute

sub|sti|tute¹ [ˈsʌbstıtju:t US -tu:t] n

[Date: 1400-1500; : Latin; Origin: , past participle of substituere 'to put in place of', from statuere; STATUTE]

1.) also sub

someone who does someone else's job for a limited period of time, especially in a sports team or school

▪ Germany brought on a substitute at half time.

▪ substitute goalkeeper

substitute for

▪ The coach has to find a substitute for Tim.

2.) a person or thing that you use instead of the one that you usually have, because the usual one is not available

▪ a sugar substitute

▪ a father substitute

3.) be no substitute for sth

used to emphasize that something is not as good as another thing

▪ Vitamin pills are no substitute for a healthy diet.

substitute ²

substitute² v

1.) [T]

to use something new or different instead of something else

substitute sth for sth

▪ The recipe says you can substitute yoghurt for the sour cream.

2.) [I]

to do someone's job until the person who usually does it is able to do it again

substitute for

▪ Bill substituted for Larry, who was off sick.

3.) [T]

to replace someone with another person especially another player

▪ Michael Owen had to be substituted after 20 minutes on the field.