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

“One-third of South Asians and more than half of all Sub-Saharan Africans suffer from malnutrition or undernutrition,” he writes.

From The Daily Beast

About one in three girls in sub-Saharan Africa experience sexual violence before turning 18.

From The Daily Beast

This fate is unfortunately not rare for girls, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

From The Daily Beast

Many Obama administration sub-Cabinet positions (e.g. Surgeon General) have gone unfilled because of GOP opposition.

From The Daily Beast

Sub- and counter-cultures are what have driven McKell throughout his career as a portrait photographer.

From The Daily Beast

Habet Rimbegui ostia sua sub gradu quadragesimo tertio cum besse.

From Project Gutenberg

Lannes enlisted in the second battalion of the volunteers of Gers, and was at once elected sub-lieutenant by his fellow-citizens.

From Project Gutenberg

Not only did he provide sub-octave and super-octave couplers freely, but he even added a Swell Sub-quint to Great coupler!

From Project Gutenberg

REEF k, in latitude 14 degrees 47 minutes, has a dry sand upon it: its sub-marine extent was not ascertained.

From Project Gutenberg

Then he returned to his province, entered the seminary, and became a sub-deacon of the diocese of Nueva Segovia.

From Project Gutenberg