sub-

¹ American  

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 ² American  

[suhb] / sʌb /

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, subbing

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, subbing

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

SUB ³ American  

abbreviation

1. supplemental unemployment benefits.

---

sub. ⁴ American  

abbreviation

1. subordinated.

2. subscription.

3. substitute.

4. suburb.

5. suburban.

6. subway.

---

sub- ¹ British  

prefix

1. situated under or beneath

   subterranean

2. secondary in rank; subordinate

   subeditor

3. falling short of; less than or imperfectly

   subarctic

   subhuman

4. forming a subdivision or subordinate part of a whole

   subcommittee

5. 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 ² British  

/ sʌb /

noun

1. short for several words beginning with sub- See subaltern subeditor submarine subordinate subscription substandard substitute substratum

2. Formal term: subsistence allowance.  informal an advance payment of wages or salary

---

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. ³ British  

abbreviation

1. subeditor

2. subito (in music)

3. subscription

4. substitute

---

sub– Scientific  

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.)

---

Regionalisms

See hero sandwich.

Etymology

Origin of sub-¹

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

Origin of sub¹

By shortening of words prefixed with sub-

Example Sentences

He immediately signaled toward the bench for a sub and walked gingerly back to the sideline while grabbing toward his right knee.

From Los Angeles Times

Former Premier League manager Neil Warnock added: "Farke seemed down and out. He made tactical changes at half-time. Last week he got criticised for making subs too slowly and not reacting quick enough."

From BBC

Renewed expectations of Federal Reserve interest rate cuts continued to buoy markets, with the probability of rate cuts rising from last week’s sub-30% low to 85%.

From The Wall Street Journal

He added that, while a majority of American drivers is going to see gas prices trending lower in the weeks ahead, most are not going to see anywhere near sub-$2 prices.

From MarketWatch

At that point first-year Vancouver coach Jesper Sorensen was so confident of victory, he subbed out captain Thomas Muller.

From Los Angeles Times