subject
subject
/ˈsʌbdʒɪkt/, /ˈsʌbdʒekt/
of conversation/book
1 a thing or person that is being discussed, described or dealt with
subject of something
Walker's work has been the subject of much debate.
a subject of discussion/conversation
Nelson Mandela is the subject of a new biography.
The incident is currently the subject of a police investigation.
on a/the subject
books on many different subjects
I have nothing more to say on the subject.
on the subject of something
a magazine article on the subject of space travel
How did we get onto the subject of marriage?
I wish you'd change the subject (= talk about something else).
We seem to have got off the subject we're meant to be discussing.
a subject for debate/discussion
The university runs a wide range of research programmes in different subject areas.
Collocations
adjective
verb + subject
subject + verb
range from something to something… subject + noun
preposition
on a/the subject
subject of
phrases
a range of subjects
a variety of subjects
at school/college
2 an area of knowledge studied in a school, college, etc.
Biology is my favourite subject.
Which subjects are you studying?
The college offers a wide range of subjects.
Collocations
adjective
verb + subject
subject + noun
preposition
in a/the subject
phrases
a choice of subject
a choice of subjects
a range of subjects…
of picture/photograph
3 a person or thing that is the main feature of a picture or photograph, or that a work of art is based on
Focus the camera on the subject.
Classical landscapes were a popular subject with many 18th century painters.
of experiment
4 a person or thing being used to study something, especially in an experiment
We need male subjects between the ages of 18 and 25 for the experiment.
grammar
5 a noun, noun phrase or pronoun representing the person or thing that performs the action of the verb (I in I sat down.), about which something is stated (the house in the house is very old) or, in a passive sentence, that is affected by the action of the verb (the tree in the tree was blown down in the storm)
of country
6 a person who belongs to a particular country, especially one with a king or queen
a British subject
The prince had to tax his subjects heavily to raise money for the war.
subject
/ˈsʌbdʒɪkt/, /ˈsʌbdʒekt/
(formal)
1 subject to something likely to be affected by something, especially something bad
At this stage these are proposals and are still subject to change.
The rent is subject to review every five years.
Flights are subject to delay because of the fog.
Collocations
verbs
adverb
2 subject to something depending on something in order to be completed or agreed
The article is ready to publish, subject to your approval.
The offer is subject to certain conditions.
We are now in the process of agreeing a sale, subject to contract.
All the holidays on offer are subject to availability.
3 subject to something/somebody under the authority of something/somebody
As a diplomat, he is not subject to local laws.
All nuclear installations are subject to international safeguards.
Everyone was entirely subject to the whim of the Sultan.
subject peoples
subject
/səbˈdʒekt/
(formal)
subject something (to something) to bring a country or group of people under your control, especially by using force
The Roman Empire subjected most of Europe to its rule.
Word Origin
Middle English (in the sense ‘(person) owing obedience’): from Old French suget, from Latin subjectus ‘brought under’, past participle of subicere, from sub- ‘under’ + jacere ‘throw’. Senses relating to philosophy, logic, and grammar are derived ultimately from Aristotle's use of to hupokeimenon meaning ‘material from which things are made’ and ‘subject of attributes and predicates’.