1. of lesser rank: lower than somebody in rank or status
2. of less importance: secondary in importance
3. grammar modifying: acting as a modifying noun, adjective, or adverb within a sentence
noun (pluralsub·or·din·ates)
Definition:
somebody in junior position: somebody who is lower in rank or status than another
transitive verb (past and past participlesub·or·din·at·ed, present participlesub·or·din·at·ing, 3rd person present singularsub·or·din·ates)
Definition:
1. make something secondary: to treat something as less important and allow something else to dominate or take priority had increasingly subordinated her research to the demands of her busy work schedule
2. place somebody in lower rank: to give somebody or regard somebody as having a lower rank or status than another
[15th century. < medieval Latin subordinatus, past participle of subordinare "place below" < Latin ordinare (see ordain)]
