[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/substitution/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [S](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/s/) / substitution

# substitution

noun (a substitution, substitutions; substitution, uncountable)

«substitution» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A substitution is putting one person or thing in the place of another. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/substitution/#m1)
2. (sport) A substitution is when a player is taken off and another player comes on. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/substitution/#m2)
3. (maths) Substitution means replacing a letter in an expression or formula with a number, to work out its value. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/substitution/#m3)
4. (cooking) A substitution is using a different ingredient instead of the one in the recipe. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/substitution/#m4)

### In the lessons

In maths lessons substitution is a key algebra skill: «If a = 3, find 2a + 1» — you substitute 3 for a to get 7. In science, a substitution reaction swaps atoms. In sport it is changing players. In codes, a substitution cipher swaps letters for other letters. Phrases: make a substitution, by substitution, substitution cipher.

### Examples

- The coach made a substitution at half-time. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/substitution/#x1)
- By substitution, if x = 4, then 3x = 12. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/substitution/#x2)
- Use substitution to check your answer to the equation. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/substitution/#x3)
- We used honey as a substitution for sugar. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/substitution/#x4)
- In a substitution cipher, A might become D and B might become E. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/substitution/#x5)
- Two substitutions changed the whole match. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/substitution/#x6)
- Substitution of the ingredients made the cake taste different. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/substitution/#x7)

### Note

Verb substitute: you substitute the new thing FOR the old one (substitute 5 for x). In maths, put brackets when substituting negatives: if a = −2, a² = (−2)² = 4. Countable for single changes (two substitutions).

## In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: Sefer Yetzirah and later Kabbalists used systems of swapping Hebrew letters for other letters according to fixed schemes to find hidden meanings. In the primary lessons: In maths lessons substitution is a key algebra skill: «If a = 3, find 2a + 1» — you substitute 3 for a to get 7. In science, a substitution reaction swaps atoms. In sport it is changing players. In codes, a substitution cipher swaps letters for other letters. Phrases: make a substitution, by substitution, substitution cipher.

### Examples

- The Kabalistic principles involved in the reversal of Hebrew letters, and their substitution by others, on definite schemes, should also be studied and borne in mind. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/substitution/#x1)

### Note

Verb substitute: you substitute the new thing FOR the old one (substitute 5 for x). In maths, put brackets when substituting negatives: if a = −2, a² = (−2)² = 4. Countable for single changes (two substitutions).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «substitution» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/substitution/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«substitution» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/substitution.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «substitution» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/substitution/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«substitution» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/substitution.html) on Mova free.