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Replace vs Redefine - What's the difference?

replace | redefine |

As verbs the difference between replace and redefine

is that replace is to restore to a former place, position, condition, or the like while redefine is to give a new or different definition to a word.

replace

English

(Webster 1913)

Verb

(replac)
  • To restore to a former place, position, condition, or the like.
  • When you've finished using the telephone, please replace the handset.
    The earl...was replaced in his government. — .
  • To refund; to repay; to restore; as, to replace a sum of money borrowed.
  • You can take what you need from the petty cash, but you must replace it tomorrow morning.
  • To supply or substitute an equivalent for.
  • I replaced my car with a newer model.
    The batteries were dead so I replaced them
  • * '>citation
  • Next Wednesday, four women and 15 men on the Crown Nominations Commission will gather for two days of prayer and horsetrading to replace Rowan Williams as archbishop of Canterbury.
  • To take the place of; to supply the want of; to fulfill the end or office of.
  • This security pass replaces the one you were given earlier.
    This duty of right intention does not replace or supersede the duty of consideration. — .
  • To demolish a building and build an updated form of that building in its place.
  • (rare) To place again.
  • (rare) To put in a new or different place.
  • Usage notes

    The propriety of the use of "replace" instead of "displace", "supersede", or "take the place of", as in the fourth definition, has been disputed on account of etymological discrepancy, but is standard English and universally accepted.

    Derived terms

    * replaceable * replacement

    Anagrams

    * English transitive verbs ----

    redefine

    English

    Verb

  • To give a new or different definition to a word
  • (computing) to define an area of storage, that has already been defined, in a different manner (e.g. both as character and numeric) - to allow multiple processing methods
  • Derived terms

    * redefinition

    Anagrams

    * ----