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

Individually, the UK’s 86 local government pension schemes vary in size, from Greater Manchester’s massive £30bn fund all the way down to several schemes which are “sub-£1bn”, according to Joanne Donnelly, board secretary at the Local Government Pension Scheme Advisory Board.

From BBC

The log of these exchanges could reveal if there were any indications that the sub was failing.

From BBC

The vessel also had an acoustic monitoring device - essentially mics fixed to the sub listening for signs it was buckling or breaking.

From BBC

But he said he was highly sceptical that this would have provided enough time for the sub to return to the surface.

From BBC

A more pertinent subsea sound was detected by the US Navy’s sonar system at the time the sub went missing - an acoustic signal consistent with an implosion.

From BBC