Definition

1. Noun:

   • A topic or theme: The main idea or matter being discussed, considered, or studied.
   • A branch of knowledge: A specific area of study or learning.
   • A person under the rule of a monarch or government: An individual who owes allegiance to a sovereign or state.
   • The person or thing being studied or examined: An individual, group, or entity that is the focus of observation, research, or analysis.
   • (Grammar) The main noun or pronoun: The part of a sentence or clause that typically performs the action or is described by the verb.
   • (Philosophy) The conscious self: The thinking, feeling individual, as distinct from the external world.

2. Adjective:

   • Under the authority or control of another: Being in a position of subordination or dependence.
   • Likely or prone to be affected by something: Having a tendency or susceptibility to a particular condition or influence.
   • Conditional upon: Dependent on something else happening or being agreed upon.

3. Verb:

   • To cause to undergo or experience: To bring someone or something under the influence or control of a particular action, condition, or treatment.
   • To bring under domination or control: To subdue or conquer.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The subject of the lecture was climate change.
  • History is my favorite subject in school.
  • The king addressed his loyal subjects.
  • The scientist observed the test subject carefully.
  • In the sentence "The cat sleeps," "the cat" is the subject.

• Adjective:

  • The territory was subject to the emperor's rule.
  • This coastal region is subject to hurricanes.
  • The plan is subject to approval by the board.

• Verb:

  • The researchers will subject the material to extreme temperatures.
  • The invading army sought to subject the population.

Advanced Usage

• "Subject to" (prepositional phrase): Indicating conditionality or susceptibility.

  • The offer is subject to availability.
  • All decisions are subject to review.

• "On the subject of": Concerning or regarding a particular topic.

  • On the subject of funding, we need more information.

• "Change the subject": To deliberately start talking about something different.

  • Whenever politics came up, he would change the subject.

Variants and Related Words

• Subjective (adj): Based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions.
  • Film criticism is often highly subjective.
• Subjectivity (n): The quality of being based on individual perspective.
• Subject matter (n): The topic or material under consideration.
  • The subject matter of the book is quite complex.

Synonyms

• Noun (Topic): Topic, theme, issue, matter.
• Noun (Branch of study): Discipline, field, area.
• Adjective (Prone to): Susceptible, liable, prone, vulnerable.
• Verb (Cause to undergo): Expose, submit, put through.

Related Phrasal Verbs / Constructions

• Subject someone/something to something: To force someone or something to experience something unpleasant.
  • The prisoners were subjected to harsh conditions.

Related Idioms

• A sore subject: A topic that causes upset or anger when mentioned.
  • His failed business venture is a sore subject.
• Off the subject: Not relevant to the current topic of discussion.
  • Your comment is interesting but off the subject.

Adjective

1. likely to be affected by something
   • the bond is subject to taxation
   • he is subject to fits of depression
2. being under the power or sovereignty of another or others
   • subject peoples
   • a dependent prince
3. possibly accepting or permitting
   • a passage capable of misinterpretation
   • open to interpretation
   • an issue open to question
   • the time is fixed by the director and players and therefore subject to much variation

Noun

1. (logic) the first term of a proposition
2. a person who owes allegiance to that nation
   • a monarch has a duty to his subjects
3. a person who is subjected to experimental or other observational procedures; someone who is an object of investigation
   • the subjects for this investigation were selected randomly
   • the cases that we studied were drawn from two different communities
4. (grammar) one of the two main constituents of a sentence; the grammatical constituent about which something is predicated
5. some situation or event that is thought about
   • he kept drifting off the topic
   • he had been thinking about the subject for several years
   • it is a matter for the police
6. a branch of knowledge
   • in what discipline is his doctorate?
   • teachers should be well trained in their subject
   • anthropology is the study of human beings
7. something (a person or object or scene) selected by an artist or photographer for graphic representation
   • a moving picture of a train is more dramatic than a still picture of the same subject
8. the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
   • he didn't want to discuss that subject
   • it was a very sensitive topic
   • his letters were always on the theme of love

Verb

1. refer for judgment or consideration
   • The lawyers submitted the material to the court
2. make subservient; force to submit or subdue
3. make accountable for
   • He did not want to subject himself to the judgments of his superiors
4. cause to experience or suffer or make liable or vulnerable to
   • He subjected me to his awful poetry
   • The sergeant subjected the new recruits to many drills
   • People in Chernobyl were subjected to radiation