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),  any small, light monoplane with a high wing, a single engine, and an enclosed cabin.

verb (used without object)

cubbed, cubbing 

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

1. cubic.

cub

¹

/ 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)

Cub

²

/ kʌb /

noun

1. short for Cub Scout

Other Word Forms

• cubbish adjective
• cubbishly adverb

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

Two mountain lions that were orphaned as cubs have been released back into the San Diego County wilderness.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A 3-year-old mountain lion, the mother of two cubs, was struck and killed by a vehicle on State Route 74 in Orange County, according to the UC Davis California Carnivores Program.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The bear in question is a young mother, with a cub by her side.

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Cheetah cubs stay hidden for two months and only join hunts at about a year old to learn stalking and killing skills.

Read more on BBC

Her sudden death has rattled the zoo staff she once dazzled and left a mark on her best friend Tule, who she has been inseparable from since they were cubs.

Read more on Los Angeles Times