a secondary or subordinate type or genre, esp a specific one considered as falling under a general classification
Derived forms
subtypical (sʌbˈtɪpɪkəl)
adjective
subtype in American English
(ˈsʌbˌtaip)
noun
1.
a subordinate type
2.
a special type included within a more general type
Derived forms
subtypical (sʌbˈtɪpɪkəl)
adjective
Word origin
[1860–65; sub- + type]This word is first recorded in the period 1860–65. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Paleolithic, blind spot, mutualism, pop-up, trade namesub- is a prefix occurring originally in loanwords from Latin (subject; subtract; subvert; subsidy). On this model, sub- is freely attached to elements of any origin and used with the meaning “under,” “below,”“beneath” (subalpine; substratum), “slightly,” “imperfectly,” “nearly” (subcolumnar; subtropical), “secondary,” “subordinate” (subcommittee; subplot)
Examples of 'subtype' in a sentence
subtype
In the brain, it impersonates the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and binds with a subtype of acetylcholine receptor called the nicotinic receptor.
Globe and Mail (2003)
The formation is a gentle subtype of arcus cloud - the funnel is horizontal and does not connect to the ground.