Meaning of “sub” in the English Dictionary

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"sub" in English

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subnoun [ C ]

uk ​ /sʌb/ us ​ /sʌb/ informal

sub noun [ C ] (REPLACEMENT)

› in sports, a player who is used for part of a game instead of another:

One of the players was injured during the match, so a sub was brought on.
Synonym
substitute

› US a teacher who replaces teachers who are absent from work:

A trained teacher, he found work as a sub which fit around his other commitments.
Synonym
substitute teacher

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

subverb

uk ​ /sʌb/ us ​ /sʌb/ -bb- informal

› [ I ] in sports, to play in a match in someone's place:

Travis subbed for the injured defender.

› [ I ] US to do a job temporarily when someone else cannot do it:

As a young player, he subbed for Duke Ellington's drummer.
I subbed as a teacher for a semester.

› [ T ] UK to replace one player with another during a game:

He was subbed in the match against Newcastle.

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

sub-prefix

uk ​ /sʌb-/ us ​ /sʌb-/

sub- prefix (LESS THAN)

› less than a number or level:

Winter weather brought sub-zero (= less than 0 degrees) temperatures to much of the country.
smart TVs in the sub-$1000 price range
the first man to run a sub-4 minute mile

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

sub- prefix (LOWER)

› below or in a lower position:

the subarctic
a sub-layer

sub- prefix (LESS GOOD)

› not as good as:

subhuman
a sub-standard effort
The film is a sort of sub-Godfather mafia family tale.

(Definition of “sub” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

"sub" in American English

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subnoun [ C ]

us ​ /sʌb/

sub noun [ C ] (REPLACEMENT)

› short form ofsubstitute teacher

sub noun [ C ] (SHIP)

› short form ofsubmarine:

a nuclear sub

sub noun [ C ] (FOOD)

› short form ofsubmarine (sandwich)

subverb [ I ]

us ​ /sʌb/ -bb-

› to work as a substitute teacher:

She subs at three schools.

(Definition of “sub” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

"sub" in Business English

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subnoun [ C ]

uk ​ /sʌb/ us ​ informal

› →  subscription :

You can save up to £20 if you pay your subs by direct debit.

› →  substitute noun :

There is a great need both for permanent teachers and subs.

› payment that your employer gives you earlier than usual because you need money:

I ran out of money on Thursday and had to ask my boss for a sub.

subverb [ T ]

uk ​ /sʌb/ us ​ -bb-

› to pay an employee earlier than usual because they need money:

He subbed him his wages because he had to buy a plane ticket.

(Definition of “sub” from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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