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⇱ sub- - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

sub-

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈsʌb-/


Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
sub- prefix
  1. situated under or beneath: subterranean
  2. secondary in rank; subordinate: subeditor
  3. falling short of; less than or imperfectly: subarctic, subhuman
  4. forming a subdivision or subordinate part of a whole: subcommittee
  5. (in chemistry)
    • indicating that a compound contains a relatively small proportion of a specified element: suboxide
    • indicating that a salt is basic salt: subacetate
Etymology: from Latin sub
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
sub /sʌb/USA pronunciation   n., v., subbed, sub•bing. 
n. [countable]
  1. Informal Termsa submarine.
  2. a substitute:We hired a sub to teach her class.
  3. Food, Dialect Termsa submarine sandwich.

v. [no object]
  1. Informal Termsto act as a substitute for another:Can you sub for their French teacher tomorrow?

sub-, prefix. 
    • sub- comes from Latin, where it has the meaning "under, below, beneath'':subsoil; subway.
    • sub- is also used to mean "just outside of, near'':subalpine; subtropical.
    • sub- is also used to mean "less than, not quite'':subhuman; subteen.
    • sub- is also used to mean "secondary, at a lower point in a hierarchy'':subcommittee; subplot.
Sometimes this prefix is spelled as su-, suc-, suf-, sug-, sum-, sup-, sur-2, sus-.
sub.,  an abbreviation of:
  1. Militarysubstitute.
  2. suburb.
  3. suburban.
  4. Transportsubway.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
sub (sub),USA pronunciation 
n. 
  1. Informal Termsa submarine.
  2. a substitute.
  3. Food, Dialect Terms, Dialect Termsa submarine sandwich. See hero sandwich. 
  4. Informal Termsa subcontractor.
  5. a sublieutenant.
  6. Informal Termsa subordinate.
  7. a subaltern.
  8. British Termsan advance against one's wages, esp. one granted as a subsistence allowance.
  9. Informal Terms, Photography[Photog.]a substratum.

v.i. 
  1. Informal Termsto act as a substitute for another.

v.t. 
  1. Informal Terms, Photography[Photog.]to coat (a film or plate) with a substratum.
  • by shortening of words prefixed with sub-
    3. See hero sandwich. 
SUB, 
  1. Business, Governmentsupplemental unemployment benefits.

sub-, 
    1. a prefix occurring originally in loanwords from Latin (subject;
      subtract;
      subvert;
      subsidy      );
      on this model, freely attached to elements of any origin and used with the meaning "under,'' "below,'' "beneath'' (subalpine;
      substratum      ), "slightly,'' "imperfectly,'' "nearly'' (subcolumnar;
      subtropical      ), "secondary,'' "subordinate'' (subcommittee;
      subplot      ).
    2. Chemistry
      • Chemistrya prefix indicating a basic compound:subacetate;subcarbonate;subnitrate.
      • Chemistrya prefix indicating that the element is present in a relatively small proportion, i.e., in a low oxidation state:subchloride; suboxide.
    Also, su-, suc-, suf-, sug-, sum-, sup-, sur-, sus-. 
    • Latin, combining form representing sub (preposition); akin to Greek hypó; see hypo-

sub., 
    1. subordinated.
    2. Journalismsubscription.
    3. Militarysubstitute.
    4. suburb.
    5. suburban.
    6. Transportsubway.

'sub-' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "sub-" in the title:

-I have two sublets\diggings\digs\sub-leases downtown New York city.
A definition for a not-liked sub-ethnic group?
a sub-clause before and after a main clause
amounts receivable 'by' the custodians and sub-custodians 'from' the Company
Any police officer, not below the rank/at the rank of a sub-Inspector.
as an action sub group
awards and sub-awards (financial)
beneath, under, below, underneath, nether, sub
blood sub
Can I say "I am confused that+sub-clause"?
Color sub modificators
conscious and sub-conscious
dee eye sub jay (equation?)
Dost know of such a place, lad, as Kingsbere-sub-Greenhill?
either..or sub+don't+have VS either..or don't have VS either..or haven't
Even at this level any changes observed over time or between sub-groups will need to be relatively
Examples of sub linking words between sentences?
first sub floor
for everything done by the Sub licensee
Foraging sub-existence
Future tense in sub-ordinate clause
Headings Sub: Sir, We
How to call a tenant of an entire guest house who sub-leases it to the guests?
I don't want cheese ON /IN my sub, taco, pizza, sandwich
I’m more of a sub-sub-librarian
In addition to [noun], [sub + verb] as well.
incorporating sub-thought
It is native to Japan where is inhabits sub-alpine forests..
many sub tasks and inputs
maximum unitary sub-division of a one-radius-system
more...

Look up "sub-" at Merriam-Webster
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