- subject
- I UK [ˈsʌbdʒɪkt] / US [ˈsʌbˌdʒekt]
noun [countable]
Word forms "subject":
singular subject plural subjects
***
1) an idea, problem, situation etc that you discuss or write aboutsubject of:Can we talk about a different subject please?
He's never mentioned the subject of money.
bring up a subject (= deliberately start talking about a subject):The subject of our debate today will be the environment.
get onto a subject (= start talking about a subject without planning to):It was Carol who brought up the subject of sports facilities.
drop a subject (= deliberately stop talking about a subject):Somehow we got onto the subject of education.
get off the subject (= stop talking about something because you have become interested in something else):Look, I don't want to talk about it, so can we drop the subject?
change the subject (= deliberately start talking about something else to avoid an argument or embarrassing situation):We're getting off the subject here – let's get back to your book.
Can we change the subject, please?
2) something that you learn or teach in a school, for example English, mathematics, or biology3) linguistics in English grammar, the person, place, or thing that does what the verb describes. In the sentence "Mary threw the ball", "Mary" is the subject.4) a person or animal that is used in a medical or scientific test5)a) a person or thing that is shown in a photograph, painting, or piece of artb) someone who is written about in a book or article6) someone who lives in a country that is controlled by a king or queena British subject
II UK [səbˈdʒekt] / US verb [transitive]
Word forms "subject":
present tense I/you/we/they subject he/she/it subjects present participle subjecting past tense subjected past participle subjected
**
Phrasal verbs:
III UK [ˈsʌbdʒɪkt] / US [ˈsʌbˌdʒekt] adjective [only before noun] formal **
under the authority and control of a government or countryThe new law applies to Britain and all its subject territories.
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English dictionary. 2014.