sub

¹

[ suhb ]

noun

1. a submarine.
2. a substitute:

   We've got a sub in English this week because our teacher's home with the flu.

3. a submarine sandwich.
4. a submissive in a BDSM sexual encounter or relationship.
5. a subcontractor.
6. a sublieutenant.
7. a subordinate.
8. a subaltern.
9. British. an advance against one's wages, especially one granted as a subsistence allowance.
10. Photography. a substratum.

verb (used without object)

, subbed, sub·bing.

1. to act as a substitute for another.
2. to act as the submissive partner in a BDSM sexual encounter or relationship.

verb (used with object)

, subbed, sub·bing.

1. Photography. to coat (a film or plate) with a substratum.

SUB

²

abbreviation for

1. supplemental unemployment benefits.

sub-

³

1. a prefix occurring originally in loanwords from Latin ( subject; subtract; subvert; subsidy ); on this model, freely attached to elements of any origin and used with the meaning “under,” “below,” “beneath” ( subalpine; substratum ), “slightly,” “imperfectly,” “nearly” ( subcolumnar; subtropical ), “secondary,” “subordinate” ( subcommittee; subplot ).
2. Chemistry.
   1. a prefix indicating a basic compound:

      subacetate; subcarbonate; subnitrate.

   2. a prefix indicating that the element is present in a relatively small proportion, i.e., in a low oxidation state:

      subchloride; suboxide.

sub.

⁴

abbreviation for

1. subordinated.
2. subscription.
3. substitute.
4. suburb.
5. suburban.
6. subway.

sub

¹

/ sʌb /

noun

1. short for several words beginning with sub- See subaltern subeditor submarine subordinate subscription substandard substitute substratum
2. informal.
   an advance payment of wages or salary Formal termsubsistence allowance

verb

1. intr to serve as a substitute
2. informal.
   intr to act as a substitute (for)
3. informal.
   to grant or receive (an advance payment of wages or salary)
4. informal.
   tr short for subedit
5. tr photog to apply a substratum to (a film or plate base)

sub-

²

prefix

1. situated under or beneath

   subterranean

2. secondary in rank; subordinate

   subeditor

3. falling short of; less than or imperfectly

   subhuman

   subarctic

4. forming a subdivision or subordinate part of a whole

   subcommittee

5. in chemistry
   1. indicating that a compound contains a relatively small proportion of a specified element

      suboxide

   2. indicating that a salt is basic salt

      subacetate

sub.

³

abbreviation for

1. subeditor
2. subito (in music)
3. subscription
4. substitute

sub–

1. A prefix that means “underneath or lower” (as in subsoil ), “a subordinate or secondary part of something else” (as in subphylum. ), or “less than completely” (as in subtropical. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of sub¹

By shortening of words prefixed with sub-

Origin of sub²

< Latin, combining form representing sub (preposition); akin to Greek hypó; hypo-

Word History and Origins

Origin of sub¹

from Latin sub

Example Sentences

And while he has posted a sub-3.40 ERA in a season five times, he has also suffered ERAs above 4.00 in three other seasons.

From Los Angeles Times

These substitutes work in regular classrooms as a second teacher when they are not needed as subs.

From Los Angeles Times

When I first started my career, I subbed at elementary schools.

From Science Magazine

A safety who usually subbed for Foster to give him occasional breathers had gotten hurt the week before, forcing him to play the entire game.

From Los Angeles Times

A team with a sub-.500 record has gone 3-2 in away games, with the losses coming against No. 4 Penn State and No. 22 Louisiana State.

From Los Angeles Times