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Noun: subordinate  su'bor-du-nut or su'bord-nut
  1. An assistant subject to the authority or control of another
    - subsidiary, underling, foot soldier, understrapper [informal]
     
  2. A word that is more specific than a given word
    - hyponym, subordinate word
Adjective: subordinate  su'bor-du-nut or su'bord-nut
  1. Lower in rank or importance
    - low-level, subsidiary
     
  2. Subject or submissive to authority or the control of another
    "a subordinate kingdom"
     
  3. (of a clause) unable to stand alone syntactically as a complete sentence
    "a subordinate clause functions as a noun or adjective or adverb within a sentence";
    - dependent
Verb: subordinate  su'bor-du-nut or su'bord-nut
  1. Rank or order as less important or consider of less value
    "Art is sometimes subordinated to Science in these schools"
     
  2. Make subordinate, dependent, or subservient
    "Our wishes have to be subordinated to that of our ruler";
    - subdue

Derived forms: subordinating, subordinates, subordinated

See also: adjunct, assistant, associate, dependent, feudatory, inferior, position, ruled, secondary, status, subject, submissive, subservient, under

Type of: aid, assistant, grade, help, helper, lower, order, place, range, rank, rate, supporter, word

Antonym: dominant, insubordinate

Encyclopedia: Subordinate