subsample

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noun

A smaller portion of an original sample, created by trimming, subdividing, splitting or discrete collection of the original sample.

UncommonScrabble 15

Meanings

nounsubsample (plural subsamples)

plural subsamples

  1. A smaller portion of an original sample, created by trimming, subdividing, splitting or discrete collection of the original sample.
  2. sciencesA portion of the original sample that is representative in nature to that of the original sample, thereby assuring equivalency in results from tests and analysis either upon the subsample or the original material, independent of their size.

    A second rater scored a subsample of copies ( n = 36 copies of both hands) and achieved high interrater reliability on the 2D and 4D measurements as well as the 2D:4D ratio with the initial rater (all intraclass r s > .97).

    2007 December 12, Kyle L. Gobrogge, S. Marc Breedlove, Kelly L. Klump, “Genetic and Environmental Influences on 2D:4D Finger Length Ratios: A Study of Monozygotic and Dizygotic Male and Female Twins”, in Archives of Sexual Behavior, volume 37, number 1, →DOI
    2 more examples

    Mahalanobis used a visual method of approximating the standard error of the income at all the fractiles of the covariate for the same graph by taking two independently selected "interpenetrating subsamples" and obtaining a graph for each of the subsamples besides the combined sample.

    2011 January 31, Anil K. Bera, Aurobindo Ghosh, Zhijie Xiao, “FRACTILES ON QUANTILE REGRESSION WITH APPLICATIONS”, in Mathematics Subject Classification, archived from the original on 12 Sep 2025, page 2

    In a statement, McDonald’s cited tests conducted in Colorado, the state that had the most cases reported in the outbreak. On its website, the state’s Agriculture Department said that tests were done on “dozens of subsamples from all the lots and all samples were found to be negative for E. coli.”

    2024 October 27, Teddy Rosenbluth, “McDonald’s Says Tests Rule Out Beef Patties as Source of E. Coli Outbreak”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 04 Dec 2024
verbsubsample (third-person singular simple present subsamples, present participle subsampling, simple past and past participle subsampled)

present singular third person subsamples · participle present subsampling · participle past subsampled · past subsampled

  1. transitiveTo take subsamples from.

    “Each sample, regardless of how I initially store it, is subsampled and dried in a food dehydrator for a few hours at about 100 degrees Fahrenheit, then vacuum sealed in plastic,” Ms. Gormezano said.

    2007 June 5, Andrew C. Revkin, “A Team of 2, Following the Scent of Polar Bears”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 09 Jul 2022
    1 more example

    The State Department of Social Services on April 11 released studies indicating statewide ineligibility of 2 to 4 per cent for federally aided cases and 5 per cent for home relief cases. The state's subsampling for New York City suggested that the rate there might be one percentage point higher.

    1972 May 17, Peter Rims, “STATE WILL CHECK RELIEF ELIGIBILITY”, in The New York Times

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*upó
  2. Proto-Italic*supo
  3. Latinsub
  4. Latinsub-
  5. Englishsub-
  6. Proto-Indo-European*h₁éǵʰ
  7. Proto-Indo-European*h₁éǵʰs
  8. Proto-Italic*eks
  9. Latinex
  10. Proto-Indo-European*h₁em-
  11. Proto-Indo-European*h₁émeti
  12. Proto-Italic*emō
  13. Latinemō
  14. Latineximō
  15. Latinexemplum
  16. Old Frenchessainple
  17. Middle Englishsaumple
  18. Englishsample
  19. Englishsubsample

From sub- + sample.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

subsample. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subsample

MLA

“subsample.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subsample. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “subsample,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subsample.

Source: subsample on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.