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

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

Santana Jr. put the cub reporter on the county government beat, which is how he found himself at Do’s election night party in 2015, the first time Do ran for supervisor.

From Los Angeles Times

Then he bought the cub for $25,000, sparking an investigation into the exotic pet trade.

From Los Angeles Times