English dictionary — definitions & meanings

subconsciously

adv

In a way that happens below the level of conscious awareness.

subcontract

verb

To contract out portions of a larger contracted project.

subcutaneous

adj

Located just beneath the skin, in the layer of fatty tissue there.

subdetectable

adj

less (in amount) than can be detected

subdivide

verb

To divide into smaller sections.

subdivision

noun

The act of splitting something that is already divided into even smaller parts.

subdominant

noun

The fourth tone of a scale.

subduable

adj

That can be subdued; domitable.

subduct

verb

To push under or below.

subduction

noun

The action of being pushed or drawn beneath another object.

subdue

verb

To bring a person, animal, or feeling under control, often by force or effort.

subdued

adj

Quieter or more restrained than usual, especially in mood.

subdural

adj

Located beneath the tough outer membrane covering the brain, known as the dura mater.

subglacial

adj

Formed or occurring beneath a glacier or other body of ice.

subimago

noun

A stage in the development of certain insects, intermediate between pupa and imago, during which the insect can fly but must shed a skin before becoming mature.

subitaneous

adj

Sudden; suddenly done or made.

subject

noun

The main topic being discussed, studied, or shown in a work of art.

subjection

noun

The act of bringing something under the control of something else.

subjective

adj

Based on personal feelings, opinions, or perspective rather than on objective fact.

subjectivity

noun

The state of being subjective.

subjugate

verb

To conquer a people or country and force them into submission.

subjugation

noun

The act of subjugating.

subjugator

noun

A person who subjugates or conquers.

sublanguage

noun

A subset of a language, in particular of a programming language.

sublation

noun

A flotation method in which the material to be separated is adsorbed on the surface of gas bubbles in a liquid and is collected on an upper layer of an immiscible liquid

sublet

verb

To rent out property that you yourself are renting from someone else.

sublimation

noun

The change of a solid directly into a gas without passing through a liquid stage, and sometimes the reverse change from gas straight to solid.

sublime

adj

So impressive, beautiful, or grand that it inspires deep awe.

subliminal

adj

Below the threshold of conscious awareness, though still capable of affecting thoughts or behavior.

sublimity

noun

The quality or state of being sublime.

submarine

noun

A vessel built to travel underwater, especially beneath the sea.

submerge

verb

To go completely under the surface of water or another liquid.

submerged

adj

Covered by water or another liquid; completely underwater.

submerse

adj

Growing entirely under water.

submersible

adj

Capable of operating while completely underwater.

submersion

noun

The act of submerging, or the state of being submerged; immersion

submission

noun

The act of giving in or yielding to someone else's authority or control.

submissive

adj

Willing to obey or give in to others without resistance.

submit

verb

To send in a piece of work, application, or request for review or approval.

submitting

noun

The act of sending something in for approval or review.

subordinate

adj

Lower in rank, importance, or position; under the authority of someone else.

subordination

noun

The process of making or classing (something or somebody) as subordinate.

suborn

verb

To induce (someone) to commit an unlawful or malicious act, especially in a corrupt manner.

subornation

noun

The act of suborning

subpar

adj

Of less than a traditional or accepted standard.

subpoena

noun

A legal order requiring someone to appear in court or produce evidence, under threat of punishment for ignoring it.

subprogram

noun

A program contained within a larger program.

subroutine

noun

A section of code, called by the main body of a program, that implements a task.

subsampling

noun

The creation of subsamples

subscribe

verb

To sign up to regularly receive a publication or service, often for a fee.

subscriber

noun

A person who has signed up to receive a service or publication regularly.

subscription

noun

An arrangement to receive a product or service regularly, usually for a recurring payment.

subsection

noun

A smaller part within a larger section, especially in a document or legal text.

subsequent

adj

Coming after something else in time or order.

subsequently

adv

Afterward; at a later time.

subservient

adj

Excessively willing to obey or serve others, often to an unhealthy degree.

subset

noun

A set A such that every element of A is also an element of S.

subside

verb

To become calmer, weaker, or less intense over time.

subsidence

noun

The process of becoming less active or severe.

subsidiary

noun

A company that is owned or controlled by a larger parent company.

subsidise

verb

Non-Oxford British English standard spelling of subsidize.

subsidize

verb

To help pay for something, especially with government or organizational funds, to lower its cost.

subsidized

adjective

Paid for in part by a government or other body, so that the person using it pays less than the true cost.

subsidy

noun

Money given, often by a government, to support an industry, activity, or lower a price.

subsist

verb

To survive on a minimum of resources.

subsistence

noun

Real being; existence.

subspace

noun

In mathematics, a smaller set within a larger space that itself has the properties of a space.

substance

noun

A particular kind of physical matter with distinct properties.

substandard

adjective

Below the accepted level of quality; not good enough.

substantial

adjective

Large enough in size, amount, or value to be significant.

substantially

adverb

To a large or significant degree.

substantiate

verb

To back up a claim with evidence or proof.

substantiation

noun

The act of substantiating.

substantive

adj

Of the essence or essential element of a thing.

substation

noun

A facility that converts or regulates electricity from high-voltage transmission lines for local use.

substitutable

adj

Capable of being used as a substitute; valid as a replacement or alternate item.

substitute

verb

To use one thing or person in place of another.

substitution

noun

The act of putting one thing in place of another, or the result of doing so.

substrate

noun

The surface or material that something is built on, grown on, or attached to.

substructure

noun

The supporting part of a structure (either physical or organizational; the foundation).

subsume

verb

To place (any one cognition) under another as belonging to it; to include or contain something else.

subtartarean

adj

Beneath Tartarus; infernal.

subterfuge

noun

A trick or deceptive scheme used to avoid something or achieve a hidden goal.

subterranean

adjective

Located below the ground.

subtext

noun

A meaning implied beneath the surface of a text, speech, or conversation, not stated outright.

subtitle

noun

A secondary title placed below or after the main title of a book or work.

subtitled

adjective

Having dialogue translated and shown as on-screen text.

subtitling

noun

The process of adding subtitles to a film, show, or video.

subtle

adjective

So slight or delicate that it is barely noticeable.

subtlety

noun

The quality of being delicate, faint, or not obvious.

subtly

adverb

In a way that is delicate or not obvious.

subtract

verb

To take one number or amount away from another.

subtraction

noun

The process of subtracting a number from another.

subtractive

adj

Of or pertaining to subtraction.

subtweet

noun

A tweet that refers to another user without tagging their name in the message, so that the user being talked about is not automatically notified.

suburb

noun

A residential area on the edge of a city, with its own local shops and services.

suburban

adjective

Relating to or typical of a suburb.

suburbia

noun

Suburbs collectively, especially thought of as conventional or unexciting.

subvention

noun

A subsidy; provision of financial or other support.

subversion

noun

The act of undermining or overthrowing a system, government, or authority from within.

subversive

adjective

Intended to undermine or overthrow an established system or authority.

subvert

verb

To weaken or destroy an established system, authority, or institution, often secretly.

subway

noun

An underground railway system used for urban public transport.

succeed

verb

To achieve a desired goal or outcome.

succeeder

noun

One who succeeds (follows after); a successor.

succeeding

adjective

Coming next, in order or in time.

success

noun

The achievement of a goal or desired result.

successful

adjective

Having achieved the intended goal or result.

successfully

adverb

In a way that achieves the intended result.

succession

noun

A number of things or people following one after another in order.

successive

adjective

Following one after another without interruption.

successor

noun

A person or thing that follows and takes the place of another.

succinct

adjective

Expressed clearly in very few words, with nothing unnecessary included.

succinctly

adv

In a succinct manner, concisely.

succinctness

noun

The property of being succinct, conciseness.

succory

noun

Chicory (Cichorium intybus).

succour

noun

Aid, assistance, or relief given to one in distress; ministration.

succuba

noun

A female demon or fiend; a succubus.

succubous

adj

Describing an arrangement of leaves such that proximal (posterior) parts of older leaves overlap the distal (anterior) parts of younger ones.

succubus

noun

In folklore, a female demon believed to seduce men in their sleep.

succulent

adjective

Juicy and tender; pleasant to eat.

succumb

verb

To give in to something overpowering, such as pressure, temptation, or illness.

such

determiner

Of the kind already mentioned or implied.

such as

phrase

Used to introduce one or more examples of the kind of thing just mentioned.

suchou

name

A prefecture-level city of Jiangsu, China, between Lake Tai and the Yangtze River.

suck

verb

To draw liquid or air into the mouth using the lips and tongue.

suckage

noun

The quality of something that sucks; inferiority; badness.

sucker

noun

A person who is easily fooled or persuaded.

suckered

adjective

Fitted or covered with suckers.

suckiness

noun

The state or condition of being sucky; inferiority or badness.

sucking

adjective

Still feeding on mother's milk; not yet weaned.

suckle

verb

To feed a baby or young animal with milk from a breast or udder.

suckler

noun

An animal that has not yet been weaned.

suckling

noun

A baby or young animal that is still feeding on its mother's milk.

suckworthy

adj

Worthless or inferior; sucky.

sucky

adj

Informal: bad, disappointing, or unpleasant.

sucre

noun

The former national currency of Ecuador, replaced by the US dollar in 2000.

suction

noun

A force that pulls or holds things together because the pressure in a space is lower than the pressure around it.

suctorial

adj

Adapted for sucking; living by sucking.

Sudan

name

A country in northeastern Africa, south of Egypt, with a long and turbulent political history.

Sudanese

adj

Relating to Sudan or its people.

sudation

noun

Perspiration; sweat (fluid).

suddaby

name

A habitational surname from Old English.

sudden

adj

Happening quickly, with little or no warning.

suddenly

adv

In a way that happens quickly and unexpectedly.

Sudha

name

A feminine given name of Sanskrit origin, meaning "nectar."

sudo

noun

A command in Unix-like operating systems that lets an authorized user run a task with another user's (usually the administrator's) permissions.

sudoku

noun

A number puzzle played on a 9x9 grid, where each row, column, and smaller 3x3 box must contain the digits 1 to 9 exactly once.

sudor

noun

Sweat; the salty fluid excreted by the sweat glands.

suds

noun

The foam or froth made when soap mixes with water.