HOW TO PRONOUNCE
subtle
/ˈsʌtəl/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:49
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The b is silent; the t remains.
Stress the first syllable, with the vowel in cup. The b is silent, but the t is pronounced.
TRY SAYING
“A subtle difference.”
APG practice sentence · CC BY-SA 4.0
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗What does subtle mean?
adjective
- Of an action or movement: very delicate or slight, and thus barely noticeable; not obvious; inconspicuous, unintrusive.
- Of an argument or concept, words, etc.: requiring one to distinguish between fine points, especially if it is difficult to do so; nice; also (generally), difficult to grasp; not easily understood or obvious.
- Giving only a slight impression; elusive, indistinct; also, skilfully restrained or understated.
More meanings (17)
adjective
- Of an artist, a musician, etc.: having a light touch; sensitive.
- Of a person: sensitive to the feelings of others; discreet, tactful.
- Of a person, their intellect or mind, etc.: discerning, perceptive, shrewd, wise.
- Acting (especially causing harm) in a stealthy, often gradual, manner; insidious.
- (archaic) Having a delicate or fine substance or texture; hence, exquisite, refined.
- (archaic) Slender, thin.
- (archaic) Of a substance: finely powdered; also, of particles of a substance: very fine or small.
- (archaic) Of weight: after the tare (“weight of an empty container”) has been subtracted; net.
- (historical) Of a substance, especially a gas or liquid: of low density or thin consistency; rarefied, tenuous; hence, tending to spread everywhere due to this quality.
- (obsolete) Synonym of subtile (“of a ship: narrow, slender”).
- (archaic) Of a person or their fingers or hands, their ability, etc.: dexterous, skilful.
- (archaic) Of a person or animal, or of an action or words: clever or skilful in a crafty or devious way; cunning, sly, wily.
- (obsolete) Of ground used for bowling: not smooth; uneven.
- (obsolete) Of an object: cleverly contrived or made; also, of a plan, etc.: cleverly contrived or carried out.
noun
- People or things that are subtle (adjective sense) as a class.
verb
- To make (something) subtle (“giving only a slight impression; also, skilfully restrained or understated”).
- (obsolete, rare) To burn (someone or something) to ash.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/ˈsʌtəl/
Pronunciation used in the listening tip.
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
Between him and the lieutenant, scolding and near to losing his mind with rage, there was felt a subtle fellowship and equality.
O, pardon me, that I descend so low, To show the line and the predicament Wherein you range under this subtle King.
More book examples (3)
Perhaps some unknown woman, far beneath herself in culture, was by the most subtle of lures sealing his fate this very instant.
The subtle, pungent, ravishing odours on the wind, of unfolding leaves, ice-water washed plants, and catkin pollen, were an elixir to humanity.
They had become worshippers of fire, or of that subtle igneous fluid residing in fire which they believed to be creative force.