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Substitute vs Prostitute - What's the difference?

substitute | prostitute |

In transitive terms the difference between substitute and prostitute

is that substitute is in the phrase "substitute X with/by Y", to use Y in place of X; to replace X with Y while prostitute is to make another person, or organisation, prostitute themselves.

substitute

English

Verb

(substitut)
  • To use in place of something else, with the same function.
  • I had no shallots so I substituted onion.
  • In the phrase "substitute X for Y", to use X in place of Y. With increasing frequency used in the semantically opposite sense (see the OED's notes).
  • I had to substitute new parts for the old ones.
  • In the phrase "substitute X with/by Y", to use Y in place of X; to replace X with Y
  • I had to substitute old parts with the new ones. (This usage was formerly proscribed.)
  • (sports) To remove (a player) from the field of play and bring on another in his place.
  • He was playing poorly and was substituted after twenty minutes
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=April 11 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Liverpool 3 - 0 Man City , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Mario Balotelli replaced Tevez but his contribution was so negligible that he suffered the indignity of being substituted himself as time ran out, a development that encapsulated a wretched 90 minutes for City and boss Roberto Mancini. }}
  • To serve as a replacement (for someone or something)
  • * 1987 , , Essays in Economics, Vol. 2 , p. 75
  • Accumulation of wealth by this route may substitute for personal saving.

    Usage notes

    The verb "to substitute" can be used transitively in two opposite ways. "To substitute X" may mean either "use X in place of something else" (as in definitions 1 and 2), or "use something else in place of X" (as in definitions 3 and 4). The latter use is more recent, but it is widespread and now generally accepted (see the COED's note on the matter). However, if the indirect object (the "something else") is omitted, the preposition is also omitted, and the reader or hearer cannot tell which sense is meant: * "Substitute butter for olive oil" = Use butter instead of olive oil * "Substitute olive oil for butter" = Use olive oil instead of butter * "Substitute butter" = ??? * "Substitute olive oil" = ???

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A replacement or stand-in for something that achieves a similar result or purpose.
  • * De Quincey
  • Ladies [in Shakespeare's age] wore masks as the sole substitute known to our ancestors for the modern parasol.
  • (sports) A player who is available to replace another if the need arises, and who may or may not actually do so.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=November 3 , author=David Ornstein , title=Macc Tel-Aviv 1 - 2 Stoke , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Dean Whitehead opened the scoring shortly after the break with a low finish and substitute Peter Crouch sealed the win with a tap-in.}}
  • (historical) One who enlists for military service in the place of a conscript.
  • Synonyms

    * See also

    prostitute

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A person who performs sexual activity for payment, especially a woman
  • I currently work as a prostitute in order to pay off my university debts .
  • A person who is perceived as engaging in sexual activity with many people.
  • A person who does, or offers to do, an activity for money, despite personal dislike or dishonour.
  • Usage notes

    * The noun is gender-neutral.

    Synonyms

    * (person who performs sexual activity for payment) See also * (person perceived as engaging in sexual activity) See also , * (person who does an activity for money) sell out

    Verb

    (prostitut)
  • (usually reflexively) To perform sexual activity for money
  • To make another person, or organisation, prostitute themselves.
  • * Bible, Leviticus xix. 29
  • Do not prostitute thy daughter.
  • (derogatory) To use one's talents in return for money or fame
  • (figuratively) To exploit for base purposes; to whore.
  • Yet again a commercial firm had prostituted a traditional song by setting an advertising jingle to its tune.