submarine

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

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

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR submarine ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

Examples from the Web for submarine

The tactical balance between the surface warship and the submarine has strategic impact.
Tomorrow’s Stealthy Subs Could Sink America’s Navy|Bill Sweetman|May 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Other improvements are making the submarine more elusive and lethal.
Tomorrow’s Stealthy Subs Could Sink America’s Navy|Bill Sweetman|May 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
LISI garbage: later discovered to be a submarine sandwich bag.
Rob Ford’s Web of Criminal Friends|Michael Daly|November 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Gandolfini reteamed with the late filmmaker Tony Scott for the 1995 submarine drama Crimson Tide.
From ‘The Sopranos’ to ‘Not Fade Away,’ the Late James Gandolfini’s Finest Roles|Marlow Stern|June 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST

In March 2010 a North Korean submarine, without cause, torpedoed the Cheonan, a South Korean frigate.
North Korea Threatens War, and South Korea Wants Revenge|Gordon G. Chang|April 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
In a few moments the submarine had climbed back to the level of the tunnel.
Astounding Stories, February, 1931|Various
Our tactics should therefore be such as to force the submarine to incur this danger in order to get within range of merchantmen.
The Victory At Sea|William Sowden Sims
As far as could be seen, there was now nothing for'ard to prevent the submarine gathering sternway.
A Sub and a Submarine|Percy F. Westerman
I think we made some inquiries about the safety of submarine boats in general.
Aircraft and Submarines|Willis J. Abbot.
Barely 500 feet lay between those on the submarine and instant death.
The Radio Detectives Under the Sea|A. Hyatt Verrill

British Dictionary definitions for submarine

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

submarine

noun

adjective

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

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

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of submarine

Related forms

Regional variation note

Examples from the Web for submarine

British Dictionary definitions for submarine

submarine

noun