subset

American  

[suhb-set] / ˈsʌbˌsɛt /

noun

1. a set that is a part of a larger set.

2. Mathematics. a set consisting of elements of a given set that can be the same as the given set or smaller.

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subset British  

/ ˈsʌbˌsɛt /

noun

1. maths

   1. a set the members of which are all members of some given class: A is a subset of B is usually written A⊆B

   2.  A⊂B.  one that is strictly contained within a larger class and excludes some of its members

2. a set within a larger set

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subset Scientific  

/ sŭb′sĕt′ /

1. A set whose members are all contained in another set. The set of positive integers, for example, is a subset of the set of integers.

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Etymology

Origin of subset

First recorded in 1900–05; sub- + set

Example Sentences

Economists now speak of the US economy as "K-shaped" to reflect the opposite fortunes of these subsets, with new cars out of reach for lower-income shoppers.

From Barron's

The federal mandate applies to only a limited subset of enrollees, and Schmidt didn’t qualify, likely because she didn’t have enough chronic health conditions.

From The Wall Street Journal

But the matter at hand may only be a subset of a broader ideology or worldview that creates a systematic distortion, not just about Iraq but about a whole complex of political issues.

From Salon

There are at least 14 known subsets, or “cliques,” with names such as Ballista Street, Blackwood Street, Northam Street and Dial Avenue, taken from areas where leaders live.

From Los Angeles Times

She says emerging research shows that only a "subset of flu-positive individuals actually shed infectious influenza virus into the air".

From BBC

Related Words

• subdivision