cub

¹

[ kuhb ]

noun

1. the young of certain animals, as the bear, lion, or tiger.
2. a young shark.
3. a young and inexperienced person, especially a callow youth or young man.
4. a young person serving as an apprentice.
5. cub reporter.
6. cub scout.
7. (initial capital letter) Aeronautics, Trademark. any small, light monoplane with a high wing, a single engine, and an enclosed cabin.

verb (used without object)

, cubbed, cub·bing.

1. to work as a cub reporter.
2. (of a female bear, lion, tiger, etc.) to give birth to a cub or cubs.
3. to hunt fox cubs.

cub.

²

abbreviation for

1. cubic.

Cub

¹

/ kʌb /

noun

1. short for Cub Scout

cub

²

/ kʌb /

noun

1. the young of certain animals, such as the lion, bear, etc
2. a young or inexperienced person

verb

1. to give birth to (cubs)

Derived Forms

• ˈcubbishly, adverb
• ˈcubbish, adjective

Other Words From

• cubbish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cub¹

First recorded in 1520–30; perhaps from Scandinavian; compare Old Norse kobbi “young seal,” kubbr “stump,” hence, “short, thick-set person”

Word History and Origins

Origin of cub¹

C16: perhaps from Old Norse kubbi young seal; see cob ¹

Example Sentences

After finding a dead bear cub on a mountain roadside, according to his account, he loaded the carcass into his car and drove into New York City.

From Los Angeles Times

In this case, the kitten’s neck was about twice as thick as a lion cub’s would be.

From NewsForKids.net

Based on the emergence of its baby incisor teeth, researchers estimate the cub was about 3 weeks old when it died.

From Science Magazine

When the ranger’s away, the bear cub will play — and the kids will stay locked in school.

From Los Angeles Times

Billy says nurturing the cub back to health made him rediscover the joy he had lost following the recent death of his parents.

From BBC