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English Words Starting With S

15,552 entries — pick a word to see its definition, pronunciation, and usage.

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Noun Verb Adjective Adverb Plural noun Combining form Verb (transitive)Verb (intransitive)Verb (ambitransitive)

subterrane
nounRare/Literary
/ˈsʌbtəreɪn/An underground chamber, cave, or dwelling.
subterranean
adjectivenounC1/C2
/ˌsʌb.təˈreɪ.ni.ən/Existing, situated, or operating below the surface of the earth.
subtext
nounC1
/ˈsʌbtekst/An underlying, implicit, and often more significant meaning or theme that is not directly stated.
subtilisin
nounC1/C2 (Very Low Frequency - Highly Specialized Technical Term)
/ˌsʌbtɪˈlaɪsɪn/A specific type of protein-digesting enzyme (protease) produced by certain bacteria.
subtilize
verbverb-intransitiveverb-transitiveVery Low
/ˈsʌtɪlʌɪz/To make subtle; to refine or improve by adding subtle distinctions or nuances; to argue or reason with excessive subtlety.
subtilty
nounVery low / Archaic
/ˈsʌt(ə)lti/The quality of being subtle, especially in a delicate, refined, or elusive manner.
subtitle
nounverbverb-transitiveB1
/ˈsʌbˌtaɪ.təl/A secondary, explanatory, or translating title displayed at the bottom of a screen or page, particularly for dialogue in a foreign language or for the hearing-impaired.
subtlety
nounC1-C2
/ˈsʌtlti/The quality or state of being subtle; a delicate or fine-grained distinction, detail, or nuance.
subtonic
nounVery Low
/sʌbˈtɒnɪk/In music theory, the seventh degree of a diatonic scale, a whole step below the tonic, especially in the natural minor scale.
subtopia
nounRare
/sʌbˈtəʊpɪə/A term describing dreary, monotonous, characterless suburban development or sprawl, typically consisting of low-quality housing, uniform commercial strips, and poor urban planning.
subtopic
nounB2
/ˈsʌbˌtɒpɪk/A distinct, smaller division or theme that falls under a broader main topic or subject.
subtotal
adjectivenounverb+2C1
/ˈsʌbˌtəʊ.təl/An intermediate sum in a calculation, representing the total of a subset of items before final additions.
subtract
verbverb-intransitiveverb-transitiveB1
/səbˈtrækt/To take away a number or amount from another; to perform the mathematical operation of finding the difference.
subtraction
nounB1
/səbˈtræk.ʃən/The arithmetic operation of taking one number or quantity away from another to find the difference.
subtractive color
nounC2/Technical
/səbˈtræktɪv ˈkʌlə/A colour model where colours are produced by absorbing (subtracting) certain wavelengths of light from white light, typically using pigments, dyes, or filters. This is the principle behind mixing paints and printer inks.
subtractive process
nounC1
/səbˈtræktɪv ˈprəʊses/A method or technique where something is removed or taken away, rather than added.
subtrahend
nounC2
/ˈsʌb.trə.hend/The number or quantity being subtracted from another number (the minuend) in a subtraction operation.
subtreasury
nounRare/Historical
/ˌsʌbˈtreʒ.ər.i/A subordinate or branch treasury where public funds are stored and managed.
subtropical
adjectivenounC1
/ˌsʌbˈtrɒpɪkəl/Relating to the regions immediately adjacent to the tropics; having characteristics partly typical of the tropics and partly typical of temperate zones.
subtropical cyclone
nounC1-C2
/ˌsʌbˈtrɒp.ɪ.kəl ˈsaɪ.kləʊn/A weather system with features of both tropical and extratropical cyclones, typically forming in subtropical latitudes with a broad wind field and sometimes a cloud-free center.

Showing 13601–13620 of 15552 words.