Dictionary
in•fe•ri•or
Pronunciation: (in-fēr'ē-ur), [key]—
adj.
1. lower in station, rank, degree, or grade (often fol. by
to):
a rank inferior to colonel.
2. lower in place or position; closer to the bottom or base:
descending into the inferior regions of the earth.
3. of comparatively low grade; poor in quality; substandard:
an inferior product.
4. less important, valuable, or worthy:
B+ bonds are inferior to AAA bonds.
5. acting or performing in a way that is comparatively poor or mediocre:
an inferior observer of human nature.
6. Bot.
a. situated below some other organ.
b. (of a calyx) inserted below the ovary.
c. (of an ovary) having a superior calyx.
7. Anat.(of an organ or part)
a. lower in place or position; situated beneath another.
b. toward the feet. Cf.
superior (def. 9).
8. Astron.lying below the horizon:
the inferior part of a meridian.
9. Print.written or printed low on a line of text, as the “2” in H
2O; subscript. Cf.
superior (def. 10).
—
n.
1. a person inferior to another or others, as in rank or merit.
2. Also called
subscript. Print.a letter, number, or symbol written or printed low on a line of text. Cf.
superior (def. 12).
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
