submarine

[suhb-muh-reen, suhb-muh-reen, 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)

submarined, submarining 

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)

submarined, submarining 

1. to attack or sink by submarine.

submarine

/ ˈsʌbməˌriːn, ˌsʌbməˈriːn /

noun

1. Often shortened to: sub. a vessel, esp one designed for warfare, capable of operating for protracted periods below the surface of the sea

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 Word Forms

• antisubmarine adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of submarine¹

1640–50; 1895–1900 submarine for def. 1; sub- + marine

Example Sentences

Before the talks, Beijing rolled out broad restrictions on exports of processed rare-earth minerals and lithium-ion batteries—critical components in everything from smartphones to submarines.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Australia and the U.K.—to sell nuclear-power submarines to Australia has survived a Pentagon review intact.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Defense manufacturers rely on them to produce everything from F-35 jet fighters, submarines and Tomahawk missiles to drone motors, night-vision goggles and radar systems.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The Navy has 287 ships in its current inventory, mostly destroyers, cruisers, aircraft carriers, amphibious ships and submarines.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Later, they switch the mission to hunt for submarines.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• sub 
• torpedo