submarines
|sub-ma-rines|
🇺🇸
/ˈsʌbməˌriːnz/
🇬🇧
/ˈsʌbməriːnz/
(submarine)
underwater vessel
Etymology
'submarine' originates from Latin elements and French influence: Latin 'sub-' meaning 'under' plus Latin 'marinus' (from 'mare') meaning 'of the sea', adopted into English largely via French 'sous-marin'.
'submarine' changed from French 'sous-marin' ('sous' = under, 'marin' = of the sea) into English as 'submarine'; the compound mirrors Latin roots 'sub-' + 'mare/marinus' and entered English usage in the 17th–19th centuries as technology developed.
Initially the components meant 'under' + 'of the sea' (describing something beneath the sea); over time the term came to denote specifically the undersea vessel (the modern sense) as well as the adjective 'underwater'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the sea, typically used for military purposes (stealth, attack, reconnaissance) or scientific research.
Submarines are used for stealth attacks and undersea reconnaissance.
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Noun 2
a long sandwich typically made on a cylindrical roll; short form often 'sub' or 'hero' in regional varieties.
They ordered several submarines for the picnic.
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Verb 1
to attack or sink by means of a submarine; to operate as a submarine (rare/usages chiefly in military contexts).
During the conflict, submarines patrolled and sometimes submarined enemy supply ships.
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Adjective 1
located, operating, or taking place under the surface of the sea; subaqueous.
Submarines infrastructure, such as cables and sensors, spans the ocean floor.
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Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/24 18:23