submarine

[ noun suhb-muh-reen, suhb-muh-reen; adjective verb suhb-muh-reen ]

noun

1. a vessel that can be submerged and navigated under water, usually built for warfare and armed with torpedoes or guided missiles.
2. something situated or living under the surface of the sea, as a plant or animal.
3. Chiefly Northeastern and North Midland U.S. a hero sandwich.

adjective

1. situated, occurring, operating, or living under the surface of the sea:

   a submarine mountain.

2. of, relating to, or carried on by a submarine or submarines:

   submarine warfare.

verb (used without object)

, sub·ma·rined, sub·ma·rin·ing.

1. to participate in the operating of a submarine.
2. to move or slide under something.
3. Slang.
   1. to be thrown under the steering wheel of the vehicle one is driving during a frontal crash.
   2. to be thrown out of one's seat belt in such a crash.

verb (used with object)

, sub·ma·rined, sub·ma·rin·ing.

1. to attack or sink by submarine.

submarine

/ ˌsʌbməˈriːn; ˈsʌbməˌriːn /

noun

1. a vessel, esp one designed for warfare, capable of operating for protracted periods below the surface of the sea Often shortened tosub
2. modifier
   1. of or relating to a submarine

      a submarine captain

   2. occurring or situated below the surface of the sea

      a submarine cable

Other Words From

• anti·subma·rine adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of submarine¹

1640–50; 1895–1900 submarine fordef 1; sub- + marine

Example Sentences

The new submarine and the LRS-B are “uploadable” systems that can carry more warheads if strategic requirements change.

From The Daily Beast

William—absent Kate and Prince George—arrived by helicopter to Gosport Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Hampshire today.

From The Daily Beast

The tactical balance between the surface warship and the submarine has strategic impact.

From The Daily Beast

Other improvements are making the submarine more elusive and lethal.

From The Daily Beast

The onetime nuclear submarine weapons officer has entered a not guilty plea.

From The Daily Beast

Meanwhile, the Australian submarine has got up through the Narrows and has torpedoed a gunboat at Chunuk.

From Project Gutenberg

The submarine E.14 sailed into harbour after a series of hair-raising adventures in the Sea of Marmora.

From Project Gutenberg

As we were leaving, a message came in to say that an enemy submarine had been sighted off Gaba Tepe.

From Project Gutenberg

The submarine scare is full on; the beastly things have frightened us more than all the Turks and all their German guns.

From Project Gutenberg

Asking his commands, the stranger said, 'I am one of the submarine inhabitants of this neighborhood.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• sub
• torpedo