Meaning of subject In English

• 0 the thing that is being discussed, considered, or studied:

  • Our subject for discussion is homelessness.

  • She has made a series of documentaries on the subject of family relationships.

  • The guest lecturer took as her subject (= decided to speak about) "punishment and imprisonment in modern society".

  • The number of planes flying over the town has been the subject of (= has caused) concern since last summer.

• 1 an area of knowledge that is studied in school, college, or university:

  • My favourite subjects at school were history and English.

  • mainly UK Her subject (= special area of study) is low-temperature physics.

  • I'd tried to explain the situation, but he just changed the subject.

• 2 a person, thing, or situation that is written about in a book, article, etc. or shown in a picture, etc.:

  • The mill by the bridge was the subject of an unfinished painting by J. M. W. Turner.

• 3 the person or thing that performs the action of a verb, or is joined to a description by a verb:

  • "Bob" is the subject of the sentence "Bob threw the ball."

• 4 a person who lives in or who has the right to live in a particular country, especially a country with a king or queen:

  • He is a British subject.

• 5 to defeat people or a country and then control them against their wishes and limit their freedom:

  • The invaders quickly subjected the local tribes.

• 6 to have or experience a particular thing, especially something unpleasant:

  • Cars are subject to a high domestic tax.

  • In recent years, she has been subject to attacks of depression.

• 7 only able to happen if something else happens:

  • We plan to go on Wednesday, subject to your approval.

  • Moving all the books should not take long, subject to there being (= if there are) enough helpers.

• 8 under the political control of another country or state:

  • subject peoples/states

• 9 something that is being discussed or considered:

  • School officials broached the subject of extending the school year.

  • It seemed like a good idea to change the subject.

• 10 an area of knowledge that is studied in school or college:

  • My favorite subjects are history and geography.

• 11 a person who lives or who has the right to live in a particular country, esp. a country with a king or queen:

  • a British subject

• 12 the person or thing that performs the action of a verb, or which is joined to a description by a verb:

  • "Bob" is the subject of the sentence, "Bob threw the ball."

• 13 likely to have or experience a particular thing, especially something unpleasant:

  • be subject to a charge/fee/tariff You may be subject to additional bank charges for currency conversion.

  • The company could be subject to a hostile takeover.

  • Income from investment of the capital will be subject to tax.

  • The $1.14 billion project is subject to approval by the board.

  • Outline planning permission has been granted, subject to a public inquiry, for a new 10,000-seat stadium on the land.

  • Tax laws are subject to change.

  • The notice period for clients to leave the agency are subject to contract.

  • The casinos are located on tribal lands not subject to state or local laws.

• 14 used about an insurance agreement when the amount of insurance on a property is less than the real value of the property, so the amount paid out by the company will be reduced:

  • You must adequately insure yourself otherwise you may find yourself subject to average.