subatmosphericadj.
/ˌsʌbatməsˈfɛrɪk/, U.S. /ˌsəbætməˈsfɪrɪk/ 1. Geology. Taking place or existing in contact with the overlying atmosphere; subaerial.
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1858 Q. Jrnl. Geol. Soc. 14 396 Some of the groups, during and after deposition, were sub-atmospheric, presenting the conditions of dry land and shallow waters for long and varying periods.
1910 Bull. N.Y. State Mus. No. 145. 146 The larger existing features and general stream directions were developed during Tertiary time under subatmospheric erosion.
2009 D. A. Russell Islands in Cosmos xv. 321 An enormous loss of water during the Moon-forming impact..may have made it possible for continental margins later to be exposed to subatmospheric erosion.
2. Chiefly Medicine and Engineering. Of pressure: less than that of the atmosphere (at sea level under normal conditions). Also: taking place or maintained at less than atmospheric pressure.
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1874 Med. Rec. 6 May 269/2 We fail to see the pertinency of the long discussion about atmospheric pressure, sub-atmospheric pressure, and the like.
1914 N. Davey Gas Turbine iii. 46 The maximum pressure difference in the turbine under sub-atmospheric expansion cannot exceed 14 lbs. per square inch.
1984 J. F. Lamb et al. Essent. Physiol. (ed. 2) vii. 190 (caption) The total pressure in the tissues and veins is subatmospheric due to less CO2 being produced than O2 used.
2000 Nucleonics Week (Nexis) 18 May 16 An air extraction system is currently operating at Pile One to remove fuel decay heat..while maintaining the core at subatmospheric pressure.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, June 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1858