1. A word that is grammatically dependent on another word in a sentence; a word in a dependent clause that relies on an independent clause for complete meaning
In the sentence 'I left because it was raining,' the word 'because' introduces a subordinate word structure.
Na frase 'Saí porque estava chovendo', a palavra 'porque' introduz uma estrutura de palavra subordinada.
2. In linguistics, a word that functions as a modifier or dependent element within a clause or phrase
The subordinate word 'which' in 'the car which is red' modifies the noun 'car'.
A palavra subordinada 'que' em 'o carro que é vermelho' modifica o substantivo 'carro'.