submarine

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

/ noun ˌsʌb məˈrin, ˈsʌb məˌrin; adjective, verb ˌsʌb məˈrin /

noun

a vessel that can be submerged and navigated under water, usually built for warfare and armed with torpedoes or guided missiles.

something situated or living under the surface of the sea, as a plant or animal.

Chiefly Northeastern and North Midland U.S. a hero sandwich.

adjective

situated, occurring, operating, or living under the surface of the sea: a submarine mountain.

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

verb (used without object), sub·ma·rined, sub·ma·rin·ing.

to participate in the operating of a submarine.

to move or slide under something.

Slang.

to be thrown under the steering wheel of the vehicle one is driving during a frontal crash.
to be thrown out of one's seat belt in such a crash.

verb (used with object), sub·ma·rined, sub·ma·rin·ing.

to attack or sink by submarine.

Nearby words

submandibular fovea, submandibular ganglion, submandibular gland, submandibular triangle, submarginal, submarine, submarine chaser, submariner, submarining, submatrix, submaxilla

Origin of submarine

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

Related forms

an·ti·sub·ma·rine, adjective

Regional variation note

3. See hero sandwich.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for antisubmarine

Antisubmarine warfare (ASW) has not stagnated, but it shows signs of disarray.
Tomorrow’s Stealthy Subs Could Sink America’s Navy|Bill Sweetman|May 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for antisubmarine (1 of 2)

antisubmarine

/ (ˌæntɪˌsʌbməˈriːn) /

adjective

(of weapons, missiles, etc) designed to combat or destroy submarines

(of warfare, tactics, etc) against submarines

British Dictionary definitions for antisubmarine (2 of 2)

submarine

/ (ˈsʌbməˌriːn, ˌsʌbməˈriːn) /

noun

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

(modifier)

of or relating to a submarinea submarine captain
occurring or situated below the surface of the seaa submarine cable

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012