Dictionary definition · subordinate
noun
- an assistant subject to the authority or control of another
- a word that is more specific than a given word
verb
- rank or order as less important or consider of less value"Art is sometimes subordinated to Science in these schools"
- make subordinate, dependent, or subservient"Our wishes have to be subordinated to that of our ruler"
adjective
- lower in rank or importance
- subject or submissive to authority or the control of another"a subordinate kingdom"
- (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"
Source: Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).