Dictionary

subliminal en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˌsɐbˈlɪm.ɪ.nəl/ (Australia)
• [səˈblɪm.ɪ.nl̩] (Received-Pronunciation)
• /sʌbˈlɪm.ɪ.nəl/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• [ˌsʌbˈlɪm.ɪ.nl̩] (Received-Pronunciation)
• (General-American) audio
• [səˈblɪm.ɪ.nl̩] (General-American)
• [ˌsabˈlɪm.ɪ.nl̩] (Australia)
• /sʌbˈlɪm.ɪ.nəl/ (General-American)
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *upó Proto-Italic *supo Latin sub Latin sub-der. English sub- English liminal English subliminal From sub- (“beneath, under”) + liminal (“of or pertaining to an entrance or threshold”) (from Latin līminālis, from līmen (“doorstep, threshold; doorway, entrance; beginning, commencement”); possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *Heh₃l- (“to bend, bow; elbow”)) + *-mn̥ (suffix forming action nouns or result nouns from verbs)) + -ālis (suffix forming adjectives of relationship from nouns)). The noun is derived from the adjective. The English word is a borrowing from German subliminal or a calque of German unterschwellig (“subliminal”, literally “beneath the threshold”).

Meanings

1. Of a stimulus, below the limen or threshold of conscious perception, especially if still able to produce a response; also (generally), below the threshold where a response can be produced.
2. (broadly) Of a stimulus, below the limen or threshold of conscious perception, especially if still able to produce a response; also (generally), below the threshold where a response can be produced. ▸ Of an advertisement, a message, etc.: conveyed in a manner that the viewer is unaware of being influenced by it.
3. Without directed awareness or thought; subconscious (dated), unconscious.

Forms

Antonyms

liminal · superliminal · superliminal · liminal

Deriveds

sublime · subliminality · subliminally · subliminalize

Relateds

liminoid · liminal · liminality · liminary

Synonyms

latent · latent · underthreshold · underthreshold

Translations (31)

pt subliminar (below the threshold of conscious perception) · ga fo-thairseachúil (below the threshold of conscious perception) · lt pasąmoninė (below the threshold of conscious perception) · fi tiedostamaton (below the threshold of conscious perception) · sv subliminal (below the threshold of conscious perception) · it subliminale (below the threshold of conscious perception) · nl subliminaal (below the threshold of conscious perception) · de unterschwellig (below the threshold of conscious perception) · ru сублиминальный (below the threshold of conscious perception) · ja 閾下の (below the threshold of conscious perception) · el παρασυνειδησιακός (below the threshold of conscious perception) · eo sublimina (below the threshold of conscious perception) · ca subliminar (below the threshold of conscious perception) · cs podprahový (below the threshold of conscious perception) · fr subliminal (below the threshold of conscious perception) · ru подсознательный (below the threshold of conscious perception) · pl podprogowy (below the threshold of conscious perception) · he תַּת־סִפִּי (below the threshold of conscious perception) · es subliminal (below the threshold of conscious perception) · de unterbewusst (below the threshold of conscious perception) · ka ქვეცნობიერი (below the threshold of conscious perception) · pl subliminalny (below the threshold of conscious perception) · sk podprahové (below the threshold of conscious perception) · hu szubliminális (below the threshold of conscious perception) · ro subliminal (below the threshold of conscious perception) · fi subliminaalinen (below the threshold of conscious perception) · fi alitajuinen (below the threshold of conscious perception) · de subtil (below the threshold of conscious perception) · tr subliminal (below the threshold of conscious perception) · bg подсъзнателен (below the threshold of conscious perception) · az subliminal (below the threshold of conscious perception)

subliminal en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˌsɐbˈlɪm.ɪ.nəl/ (Australia)
• [səˈblɪm.ɪ.nl̩] (Received-Pronunciation)
• /sʌbˈlɪm.ɪ.nəl/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• [ˌsʌbˈlɪm.ɪ.nl̩] (Received-Pronunciation)
• (General-American) audio
• [səˈblɪm.ɪ.nl̩] (General-American)
• [ˌsabˈlɪm.ɪ.nl̩] (Australia)
• /sʌbˈlɪm.ɪ.nəl/ (General-American)
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *upó Proto-Italic *supo Latin sub Latin sub-der. English sub- English liminal English subliminal From sub- (“beneath, under”) + liminal (“of or pertaining to an entrance or threshold”) (from Latin līminālis, from līmen (“doorstep, threshold; doorway, entrance; beginning, commencement”); possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *Heh₃l- (“to bend, bow; elbow”)) + *-mn̥ (suffix forming action nouns or result nouns from verbs)) + -ālis (suffix forming adjectives of relationship from nouns)). The noun is derived from the adjective. The English word is a borrowing from German subliminal or a calque of German unterschwellig (“subliminal”, literally “beneath the threshold”).

Meanings

1. (broadly) Chiefly preceded by the: something which is below the limen or threshold of conscious perception. ▸ An advertisement, a message, etc., which is conveyed in a manner that a person is unaware of being influenced by it.
2. (Internet) Chiefly preceded by the: something which is below the limen or threshold of conscious perception. ▸ An audio or video recording, often consisting of ambient music or white noise with hidden affirmations, intended to produce physical or psychological changes in the listener through repetition.
   • She spent all night listening to a subliminal to change her eye color.
3. Chiefly preceded by the: the subconscious (dated) or unconscious self.

Forms

Translations (4)

pl wiadomość podprogowa (advertisement, message, etc., which is conveyed in a manner that a person is unaware of being influenced by it) · ja 閾下 (something below the limen or threshold of conscious perception) · pl sfera podświadoma (subconscious or unconscious self) · pl rzecz podprogowa (something below the limen or threshold of conscious perception)