Menu

Subsume for Dummies

verb

pronunciation: səb'sum

What does Subsume really mean?

55 1
55
Subsume is a word that might sound complex at first, but I'm here to explain it to you in the simplest way possible. So, imagine you have a big umbrella that can cover lots of different things, such as objects or ideas. Well, when we say that one thing subsumes another thing, it means that the first thing is like that umbrella, it includes or encompasses the second thing within it. It's like saying that one thing is so big or so important that it kind of "absorbs" or "swallows up" the other thing.

Let me give you an example. Imagine there's a category called "Fruits." Under this category, we have different types of fruits like apples, bananas, and oranges. Now, let's say we have another category called "Citrus fruits," under which we have only oranges and lemons. In this case, we can say that the category "Citrus fruits" subsumes the category "Fruits" because it includes the fruits that fall under the larger category of "Fruits" but adds the specific characteristic of being citrus fruits.

Another way to understand subsume is to think about it as a big family that has different members. Let's imagine this big family is called the "Smith family" and it has parents, children, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. Now, if we say that the "Smith family" subsumes the category of "relatives," it means that within this big family, you can find all the different relatives like parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents.

So, in conclusion, when we say that something subsumes another thing, it means that the first thing is like a big umbrella or a big family that includes or encompasses the second thing within it. It's like saying that one thing is so big or so important that it kind of covers or includes the other thing.

Revised and Fact checked by Olivia White on 2023-10-28 22:04:17

Subsume In a sentece

Learn how to use Subsume inside a sentece

  • In a zoo, we can subsume animals into different categories like birds, mammals, or reptiles based on their characteristics.
  • When we sort books based on genres like mystery, adventure, or fantasy, we are subsuming them into different categories.
  • In a restaurant, we can subsume food items into different types like appetizers, main course, or desserts based on their purpose.
  • In a garden, we can subsume flowers into different groups like roses, lilies, or daisies based on their appearance and characteristics.
  • When we organize our clothes in the wardrobe, we subsume them into different categories like shirts, pants, or dresses based on their style and purpose.

Subsume Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

Subsume Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.