submachine

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Etymology 1

From sub- +‎ machine.

Noun

submachine (plural submachines)

1. A machine forming part of a larger machine.
   1. (computer science) A part of a real or virtual machine which acts as a machine in its own right.
      • 1999, Martin Beran, “Decomposable Bulk Synchronous Parallel Computers”, in SOFSEM '99: Theory and Practice of Informatics‎, →ISBN, page 351:

        In the same computation, the computer may be decomposed repeatedly and the partitioning may vary from one split to the other. The submachines can further recursively decompose […]

Etymology 2

Shortened from submachine gun.

Adjective

submachine (not comparable)

1. Of or pertaining to a submachine gun.
   • 2003, Milt Bearden, James Risen, The Main Enemy‎, →ISBN, page 244:

     The body of one of the dead crewmen bounced and rolled a little as the submachine rounds ripped into it.