subscript
subscript Lexical Profile
subscript Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A letter, figure, or symbol written or printed slightly below the normal line of text, commonly used in mathematical expressions and chemical formulas.
"In the chemical formula for water, the number two is written as a subscript to indicate two hydrogen atoms."
An index value or symbol used in computer programming to identify a specific element within an array.
"An out-of-bounds error occurs when a loop attempts to access an array using a negative subscript."
• adjective
Written or printed slightly below the normal line of text.
"Please format the index numbers as subscript characters in the final equation."
• verb
To write, print, or format a character as a subscript, or to mark a symbol with a subscript.
"You should subscript the variable names to distinguish between the initial and final velocities."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'subscript' (characters printed slightly below the baseline, as in chemical formulas like H₂O) with 'superscript' (characters printed slightly above the baseline, as in mathematical exponents like x²).
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Latin subscriptus, the past participle of subscribere ('to write underneath'), formed from sub- ('under') and scribere ('to write').