Example synonyms for something used in place of another thing are:
substitute
surrogate
proxy
stand-in
replacement
representative
Something used in a place of another thing is a substitute.
A number can name something by representing a person, place or thing.
its something you use instead of that one thing.
Absorption is a word used to describe when something absorbs into another thing. It also can mean to be engrossed in something.
Yes, the word 'pathway' is a noun, a word for a track or course used for walking form one place to another; the course along which something moves; a word for a thing.
it is another kind of vantage that is used to describe a thing or a place in a center point..
A symbol, a singular, common, abstract noun is a word for something that stands for something else; something real that stands for or suggests another thing that cannot in itself be pictured (a lion is a symbol for courage); a letter, character, or sign used instead of a word or group of words (+, =, &, etc.).
it is another kind of vantage that is used to describe a thing or a place in a center point..
Portability is the phenomenon where one thing can be taken from one place to another without making efforts and can be easily used in another setup.
you could use something as a transportation to get water to one place to another.
If you are referring to where one goes to be educated, that is a place. " I go to a school for art.". It can also be used as a verb to describe being taught something, which I actually think is slang, " come here son and let me school you on playing pool". As far as it being used as a thing, only if it was a miniaturized replica, then it could be referred to as a thing.
An abnormality is something that is not normal in genetics or something that is 'out of this world'.