ENGLISH
REFERENCE

subset

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈsəbˌsɛt// UK //sˈʌbsɛt// sub·set

n. a smaller group of people or things that is part of a larger group. You use this when you want to focus on just one specific section of a whole set.

n. a portion of a larger group or set, where every element of the smaller group is also contained within the larger one.


SIMPLE

This data represents a small subset of the total population.

CONTEXTUAL

The researchers focused on a subset of patients who had not responded to previous treatments.

COMPLEX

In mathematical set theory, a set is considered a subset of another if all its members are also members of the parent set, including the possibility that the two sets are identical.

Origin

From sub- + set.

Usage

Often followed by the preposition 'of' to identify the parent group.

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