submarine

American  

[suhb-muh-reen, suhb-muh-reen, suhb-muh-reen] / ˌsʌb məˈrin, ˈsʌb məˌrin, ˌsʌb məˈrin /

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 British  

/ 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

---

Regionalisms

See hero sandwich.

Other Word Forms

• antisubmarine adjective

Etymology

Origin of submarine

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

Example Sentences

The other two are in Sardinia, and are earmarked for closure in 2028-2029, once the island is electrically linked to the mainland via a new submarine cable.

From Barron's

“The Chinese military is building up, and they’re getting aircraft carriers, increasing the number of jet fighters, increasing the number of submarines,” said Kono.

From The Wall Street Journal

Australia's vast coastline and small population have spurred its focus on developing robot submarines and fighter jets, with a wary eye on China's naval build-up in the Indo-Pacific.

From Barron's

This week it says it has hit weapons and naval cruise-missile production sites in Tehran, an underwater research center in Isfahan used to manufacture submarines, and an explosive-materials production site in Isfahan.

From The Wall Street Journal

Just the year before, in February 1942, a Japanese submarine had shelled an oil field near Santa Barbara, and the very next night, L.A. was ordered into a blackout.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• sub
• torpedo