sub

[ suhb ]

/ sʌb /

Informal.

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See synonyms for sub on Thesaurus.com

noun

a submarine.

a submissive in a BDSM sexual encounter or relationship.

a substitute.

a submarine sandwich. See entry at hero sandwich.

a subcontractor.

a sublieutenant.

a subordinate.

a subaltern.

British. an advance against one's wages, especially one granted as a subsistence allowance.

Photography. a substratum.

verb (used without object), subbed, sub·bing.

to act as a substitute for another.

verb (used with object), subbed, sub·bing.

Photography. to coat (a film or plate) with a substratum.

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of sub

By shortening of words prefixed with sub-

regional variations of sub

4. See hero sandwich.

Other definitions for sub (2 of 4)

SUB

abbreviation

supplemental unemployment benefits.

Other definitions for sub (3 of 4)

sub-

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).

Chemistry.

a prefix indicating a basic compound: subacetate; subcarbonate; subnitrate.
a prefix indicating that the element is present in a relatively small proportion, i.e., in a low oxidation state: subchloride; suboxide.

Also su-, suc-, suf-, sug-, sum-, sup-, sur-, sus- .

Origin of sub-

<Latin, combining form representing sub (preposition); akin to Greek hypó;see hypo-

Other definitions for sub (4 of 4)

sub.

abbreviation

subordinated.

subscription.

substitute.

suburb.

suburban.

subway.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use sub in a sentence

“One-third of South Asians and more than half of all Sub-Saharan Africans suffer from malnutrition or undernutrition,” he writes.
The History of the Chicken: How This Humble Bird Saved Humanity|William O’Connor|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
About one in three girls in sub-Saharan Africa experience sexual violence before turning 18.
To End HIV, Stop Violence Against Adolescent Girls|Michele Moloney-Kitts|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This fate is unfortunately not rare for girls, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.
To End HIV, Stop Violence Against Adolescent Girls|Michele Moloney-Kitts|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Many Obama administration sub-Cabinet positions (e.g. Surgeon General) have gone unfilled because of GOP opposition.
If You Think D.C. Is Awful Now, Wait Until Wednesday|Jonathan Alter|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Sub- and counter-cultures are what have driven McKell throughout his career as a portrait photographer.
London’s Pagan Counterculture Kings|Justin Jones|October 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Habet Rimbegui ostia sua sub gradu quadragesimo tertio cum besse.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Lannes enlisted in the second battalion of the volunteers of Gers, and was at once elected sub-lieutenant by his fellow-citizens.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
Not only did he provide sub-octave and super-octave couplers freely, but he even added a Swell Sub-quint to Great coupler!
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building|George Laing Miller
REEF k, in latitude 14 degrees 47 minutes, has a dry sand upon it: its sub-marine extent was not ascertained.
Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia] [Volume 2 of 2]|Phillip Parker King
Then he returned to his province, entered the seminary, and became a sub-deacon of the diocese of Nueva Segovia.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman

British Dictionary definitions for sub (1 of 3)

sub

/ (sʌb) /

noun

short for several words beginning with sub-See subaltern, subeditor, submarine, subordinate, subscription, substandard, substitute, substratum (def. 6)

British informal an advance payment of wages or salaryFormal term: subsistence allowance

verb subs, subbing or subbed

(intr) to serve as a substitute

(intr) informal to act as a substitute (for)

British informal to grant or receive (an advance payment of wages or salary)

(tr) informal short for subedit

(tr) photog to apply a substratum to (a film or plate base)

British Dictionary definitions for sub (2 of 3)

sub-

prefix

situated under or beneathsubterranean

secondary in rank; subordinatesubeditor

falling short of; less than or imperfectlysubarctic; subhuman

forming a subdivision or subordinate part of a wholesubcommittee

(in chemistry)

indicating that a compound contains a relatively small proportion of a specified elementsuboxide
indicating that a salt is basic saltsubacetate

Word Origin for sub-

from Latin sub

British Dictionary definitions for sub (3 of 3)

sub.

abbreviation for

subeditor

subito (in music)

subscription

substitute

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

Scientific definitions for sub

sub-

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.)

sub

Origin of sub

regional variations of sub

Other definitions for sub (2 of 4)

Other definitions for sub (3 of 4)

Origin of sub-

Other definitions for sub (4 of 4)

Words related to sub

How to use sub in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for sub (1 of 3)

British Dictionary definitions for sub (2 of 3)

Word Origin for sub-

British Dictionary definitions for sub (3 of 3)

Scientific definitions for sub