cub Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an awkward and inexperienced youth
    rookie; greenhorn.
  2. noun a male child (a familiar term of address to a boy)
    lad; laddie; sonny; sonny boy.
  3. noun the young of certain carnivorous mammals such as the bear or wolf or lion
    young carnivore.
  4. verb give birth to cubs
    • bears cub every year

WordNet

Cub noun
Etymology
Cf. Ir. cuib cub, whelp, young dog, Ir. & Gael. cu dog; akin to E. hound.
Definitions
  1. A young animal, esp. the young of the bear.
  2. Jocosely or in contempt, a boy or girl, esp. an awkward, rude, illmannered boy.
    O, thuo dissembling cub! what wilt thou be When time hath sowed a drizzle on thy case? Shak.
Cub transitive verb & intransitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Cubbed (kbd); present participle & verbal noun Cubbing
Definitions
  1. To bring forth; -- said of animals, or in contempt, of persons. "Cubb'd in a cabin." Dryden.
Cub noun
Etymology
Cf. Cub a young animal.
Definitions
  1. A stall for cattle. Obs.
    I would rather have such . . . .in cubor kennel than in my closet or at my table. Landor.
  2. A cupboard. Obs. Laud.
Cub transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To shut up or confine. Obs. Burton.

Webster 1913