a subring or subdivision of a (mathematical) field in abstract algebra
See also field (sense 15)
subfield in American English
(ˈsʌbˌfild)
noun
Math
a field that is a subset of a given field
Word origin
[1945–50; sub- + field]This word is first recorded in the period 1945–50. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: beeper, fail-safe, on-line, poison pill, synchronized swimmingsub- is a prefix occurring originally in loanwords from Latin (subject; subtract; subvert; subsidy). On this model, sub- is freely attached to elements of any origin and used with the meaning “under,” “below,”“beneath” (subalpine; substratum), “slightly,” “imperfectly,” “nearly” (subcolumnar; subtropical), “secondary,” “subordinate” (subcommittee; subplot)