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.

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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

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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

Fraudulent procurement practices could also have been a factor in the dockside-sinking of a prototype of a new Chinese submarine, the Pentagon said last year.

From The Wall Street Journal

The region also makes all its own ships and submarines, vessels that outsell their U.S. peers globally.

From The Wall Street Journal

Anduril is developing new defense technologies that include drones, missiles, robotic submarines, and autonomous fighter jets.

From Los Angeles Times

A major air campaign inside Iran, however, would likely involve stealthy aircraft such as F-35 fighters and B-2 bombers, as well as cruise missile-firing submarines—weapon systems that featured in the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal

In the film “Crimson Tide,” a galley fire and a medical emergency strike when a drill is called on a nuclear submarine.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• sub
• torpedo