'Subordinate' definitions:

Definition of 'subordinate'

(from WordNet)
adjective
Lower in rank or importance [syn: subordinate, low- level] [ant: dominant]
adjective
Subject or submissive to authority or the control of another; "a subordinate kingdom" [ant: insubordinate]
adjective
(of a clause) unable to stand alone syntactically as a complete sentence; "a subordinate (or dependent) clause functions as a noun or adjective or adverb within a sentence" [syn: dependent, subordinate] [ant: independent, main(a)]
noun
An assistant subject to the authority or control of another [syn: subordinate, subsidiary, underling, foot soldier]
noun
A word that is more specific than a given word [syn: hyponym, subordinate, subordinate word]
verb
Rank or order as less important or consider of less value; "Art is sometimes subordinated to Science in these schools"
verb
Make subordinate, dependent, or subservient; "Our wishes have to be subordinated to that of our ruler" [syn: subordinate, subdue]

Definition of 'Subordinate'

From: GCIDE
  • Subordinate \Sub*or"di*nate\, a. [Pref. sub + L. ordinatus, p. p. of ordinare to set in order, to arrange. See Ordain.]
  • 1. Placed in a lower order, class, or rank; holding a lower or inferior position. [1913 Webster]
  • The several kinds and subordinate species of each are easily distinguished. --Woodward. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Inferior in order, nature, dignity, power, importance, or the like. [1913 Webster]
  • It was subordinate, not enslaved, to the understanding. --South. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Subordinate'

From: GCIDE
  • Subordinate \Sub*or"di*nate\, n. One who stands in order or rank below another; -- distinguished from a principal. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Subordinate'

From: GCIDE
  • Subordinate \Sub*or"di*nate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Subordinated; p. pr. & vb. n. Subordinating.]
  • 1. To place in a lower order or class; to make or consider as of less value or importance; as, to subordinate one creature to another. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To make subject; to subject or subdue; as, to subordinate the passions to reason. [1913 Webster] -- {Sub*or"di*nate*ly}, adv. -- {Sub*or"di*nate*ness}, n. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'subordinate'

From: GCIDE
  • Dependent \De*pend"ent\, a. [L. dependens, -entis, p. pr. dependere. See Depend, and cf. Dependant.]
  • 1. Hanging down; as, a dependent bough or leaf. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Relying on, or subject to, something else for support; not able to exist, or sustain itself, or to perform anything, without the will, power, or aid of something else; not self-sustaining; subordinate; -- often with on or upon; as, dependent on God; dependent upon friends. Opposite of independent. [Narrower terms: {interdependent, mutualist, mutually beneficial}; {parasitic, parasitical, leechlike, bloodsucking}; subordinate; underage; myrmecophilous; symbiotic] Also See: unfree. [1913 Webster]
  • England, long dependent and degraded, was again a power of the first rank. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. conditional; contingent or conditioned. Opposite of unconditional.
  • Syn: qualified. [WordNet 1.5]
  • 4. addicted to drugs.
  • Syn: addicted, dependent, drug-addicted, hooked, strung-out. [WordNet 1.5]
  • Dependent covenant or Dependent contract (Law), one not binding until some connecting stipulation is performed.
  • Dependent variable (Math.), a varying quantity whose changes are arbitrary, but are regarded as produced by changes in another variable, which is called the independent variable. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'subordinate'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Words containing 'Subordinate'