submarine

/ˌˈsʌbməˌrin/

/ˈsʌbmərin/

Other forms: submarines; submarined; submarining

If you're in the Navy, a submarine is a military ship that goes under the water. If you're hungry, it's a type of sandwich.

This word mainly refers to a vessel that travels underwater and is armed with torpedoes — also known as a U-boat. But you can submarine someone by attacking them with a submarine or bringing them down with a blow to the legs. A disappointment can submarine — or sink — your hopes and dreams. In the kitchen, a submarine is what you call a long, crusty sandwich filled with meats and cheese — also known as a sub, grinder, hero, or hoagie.

Definitions of submarine

1. noun

   a submersible warship usually armed with torpedoes
   synonyms: U-boat, pigboat, sub

   types:

   attack submarine

   a military submarine designed and armed to attack enemy shipping

   auxiliary research submarine

   a submarine for research purposes

   fleet ballistic missile submarine

   a submarine carrying ballistic missiles

   nautilus, nuclear submarine, nuclear-powered submarine

   a submarine that is propelled by nuclear power

   type of:

   submersible, submersible warship

   a warship designed to operate under water
2. noun

   a large sandwich made of a long crusty roll split lengthwise and filled with meats and cheese (and tomato and onion and lettuce and condiments); different names are used in different sections of the United States
   synonyms: Cuban sandwich, Italian sandwich, bomber, grinder, hero, hero sandwich, hoagie, hoagy, poor boy, sub, submarine sandwich, torpedo, wedge, zep

   type of:

   sandwich

   two (or more) slices of bread with a filling between them
3. adjective

   beneath the surface of the sea
   synonyms: undersea

   subsurface

   beneath the surface
4. verb

   attack by submarine
   “The Germans submarined the Allies”

   type of:

   assail, attack

   launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with
5. verb

   control a submarine
   type of:

   control, operate

   handle and cause to function
6. verb

   move forward or under in a sliding motion
   “The child was injured when he submarined under the safety belt of the car”

   type of:

   skid, slew, slide, slip, slue

   move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled manner
7. verb

   bring down with a blow to the legs
   type of:

   cut down, down, knock down, pull down, push down

   cause to come or go down
8. verb

   throw with an underhand motion
   type of:

   flip, pitch, sky, toss

   throw or toss with a light motion