submarine
submarine — noun
1. A long, narrow military vessel built to navigate and carry out operations beneat
A long, narrow military vessel built to navigate and carry out operations beneath the ocean surface, typically armed with torpedoes or guided missiles.
Sade toured a retired Cold War submarine at the naval museum in Helsinki.
collocation: nuclear submarine / Cold War submarine
The submarine's sonar detected an unidentified vessel approaching from the east.
possessive: submarine's + equipment (sonar)
Takeshi spent eighteen months serving on a submarine before transferring to a destroyer.
When the submarine surfaced, the crew climbed onto the deck to breathe fresh air.
- sub
informal short form, very common in spoken English and naval slang
- U-boat
specifically refers to German submarines of WWI and WWII, not used for modern vessels
- submersible
a smaller underwater vehicle that usually needs a support ship; different from a military submarine
- surface ship
any vessel that travels on top of the water rather than beneath it
用法筆記
This is the core sense and the most common use of the word. It always refers to a crewed military vessel — uncrewed underwater vehicles are called 'remotely operated vehicles' (ROVs) or 'autonomous underwater vehicles' (AUVs), not submarines.
常見錯誤
2. A filling sandwich built from a bread roll split down the middle and stacked wit
A filling sandwich built from a bread roll split down the middle and stacked with cold cuts, cheese, fresh vegetables, and dressing.
Christopher ordered a submarine with roast beef, cheddar, and spicy mustard.
submarine + with + [ingredients]
For the road trip, Lisa packed two foot-long submarines and wrapped them in wax paper.
quantifier: foot-long submarine
The corner deli sells a submarine that easily feeds two hungry adults.
Marco asked the server to toast his submarine until the cheese turned golden brown.
用法筆記
This word is used in the northeastern United States. The same sandwich has many regional names — 'hero' (New York), 'hoagie' (Philadelphia), 'grinder' (New England), 'torpedo' (parts of the Midwest and West Coast). In other English-speaking countries, 'submarine sandwich' or just 'sub' is the most widely understood term.
常見錯誤
submarine — adjective
1. Situated beneath the ocean's surface or relating to the environment below sea le
Situated beneath the ocean's surface or relating to the environment below sea level.
Submarine volcanoes along the mid-ocean ridge constantly reshape the seafloor.
adjective + noun: submarine volcano
The research team mapped a submarine canyon deeper than the Grand Canyon.
Submarine cables carry almost all international internet traffic across the oceans.
Élise studied submarine plant species that survive without any sunlight.
- underwater
more general term; 'underwater' can refer to any body of water, while 'submarine' specifically relates to the ocean
- subsea
technical term used especially in the oil and gas industry; similar meaning, narrower context
- marine
broader term meaning 'of the sea' without specifying above or below the surface
- surface
on top of the ocean rather than beneath it
用法筆記
This adjective is almost always used attributively (before a noun). Common noun pairs include submarine volcano, submarine cable, submarine canyon, and submarine pipeline. It is not used predicatively — you would not say 'the volcano is submarine'.
2. Relating to a baseball pitching style in which the arm swings in a low arc and t
Relating to a baseball pitching style in which the arm swings in a low arc and the ball leaves the hand near the ground, well below the hip.
Dewi practiced her submarine delivery every morning before school.
collocation: submarine delivery
Major League hitters often struggle against a pitcher with a submarine style.
collocation: submarine style
The submarine throw put extra spin on the ball, making it dive at the plate.
Coach Omar said a submarine motion strains the shoulder less than overhand throwing.
- overhand
a throwing motion where the hand is above the shoulder at release
用法筆記
Primarily used in baseball contexts. The term describes a specific arm angle — the pitcher's hand passes below the knee at release point. This is distinct from 'sidearm' (hand at hip level) and 'overhand' (hand above shoulder). This pitch type is relatively uncommon in professional baseball.
submarine — verb
1. To launch an assault from a concealed position beneath the surface, especially b
To launch an assault from a concealed position beneath the surface, especially by attacking a target from underwater.
The enemy supply ship was submarined by a hidden vessel lurking beneath the waves.
passive: was submarined by + agent
During the naval exercise, the blue fleet submarined two enemy destroyers before dawn.
The pirates submarined the merchant vessel by striking its hull from below with explosives.
No navy has submarined an enemy warship in combat since World War Two.
文法句型
submarine + object
用法筆記
This is a rare transitive verb used almost exclusively in military-historical writing. In modern English, the noun sense is far more common; 'torpedo' or 'sink' are preferred verbs for this action.
常見錯誤
2. To slide, dive, or move beneath the surface of water or under an obstacle in a s
To slide, dive, or move beneath the surface of water or under an obstacle in a smooth, gliding motion.
The seal submarined under the ice floe to escape the polar bear.
submarine + under + [obstacle]
Tara watched the hippo submarine beneath the muddy river water.
The children submarined under the huge wave as it crashed toward the shore.
A sea turtle submarined beneath the fishing net and swam free into open water.
- surface
to rise to the top of the water
文法句型
submarine + under/beneath + object
用法筆記
This verb is intransitive and usually followed by a prepositional phrase beginning with 'under' or 'beneath'. The subject is typically an animal or a person moving through water. It suggests a smooth, deliberate motion rather than a sudden plunge.