submarine

[ noun suhb-muh-reen, suhb-muh-reen; adjective, verb suhb-muh-reen ]
See synonyms for submarine on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a vessel that can be submerged and navigated under water, usually built for warfare and armed with torpedoes or guided missiles.

  2. something situated or living under the surface of the sea, as a plant or animal.

  1. Chiefly Northeastern and North Midland U.S. a hero sandwich.

adjective
  1. situated, occurring, operating, or living under the surface of the sea: a submarine mountain.

  2. of, relating to, or carried on by a submarine or submarines: submarine warfare.

verb (used without object),sub·ma·rined, sub·ma·rin·ing.
  1. to participate in the operating of a submarine.

  2. to move or slide under something.

  1. Slang.

    • to be thrown under the steering wheel of the vehicle one is driving during a frontal crash.

    • to be thrown out of one's seat belt in such a crash.

verb (used with object),sub·ma·rined, sub·ma·rin·ing.
  1. to attack or sink by submarine.

Origin of submarine

1
1640–50; 1895–1900 for def. 1; sub- + marine

regional variation note For submarine

3. See hero sandwich.

Other words from submarine

  • an·ti·sub·ma·rine, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use submarine in a sentence

  • Before speaking of anti-submarine work, a very short description of the German submarine and its variations in type is advisable.

    The Story of Our Submarines | John Graham Bower
  • A few instances of both English and German anti-submarine strafing may be of interest.

    The Story of Our Submarines | John Graham Bower
  • It is curious that both British and German submarine officers have the same opinion of aircraft as anti-submarine weapons.

    The Story of Our Submarines | John Graham Bower
  • This, of course, is because only a Fleet holding command of the sea can institute regular anti-submarine methods and patrols.

    The Story of Our Submarines | John Graham Bower
  • E boats having been seen by the enemy off this river, they sent out a 3000-ton auxiliary to lay anti-submarine nets on the billet.

    The Story of Our Submarines | John Graham Bower

British Dictionary definitions for submarine

submarine

/ (ˈsʌbməˌriːn, ˌsʌbməˈriːn) /


noun
  1. a vessel, esp one designed for warfare, capable of operating for protracted periods below the surface of the sea: Often shortened to: sub

  2. (modifier)

    • of or relating to a submarine: a submarine captain

    • occurring or situated below the surface of the sea: a submarine cable

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012