■ noun ( plural understudies ) an actor who learns another's role so as to be able to act in their absence.
■ verb ( understudies , ~ing , understudied ) study (a role or actor) as an ~.
■ noun ( plural understudies ) an actor who learns another's role so as to be able to act in their absence.
■ verb ( understudies , ~ing , understudied ) study (a role or actor) as an ~.
Concise Oxford English vocab. Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка. 2004