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

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

Sun’s husband, Chris Hu, faces a subset of the charges in the same trial and his lawyers argue that his business activity was unrelated to her connections.

From The Wall Street Journal

Fewer birth-dose hepatitis B shots will mean more chronic infections, which will then lead to higher spending on liver disease, including expensive antiviral therapy, hospitalizations and a subset of patients who will need transplantation.

From MarketWatch

Coupland notes the brief Cyber Monday outage affected only a subset of users and doesn’t overshadow sales momentum.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• subdivision