Stead means 'place' or 'position'.
Stead is a very old word and is not used very much now.
Examples:
I will stand in your stead.
He took his father's place and stood in his stead.
She worked in my stead while I was away.
I will eat the cake in your stead.
The dog guarded the house in my stead.
He went to the store in my stead.