Subassemblies

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A set of components or units that are assembled separately and designed to be incorporated into a larger final product or system
2. Individual parts or modules built to function as part of a more extensive system, often produced in bulk
3. Collections of parts or segments assembled independently, intended to simplify the construction of complex machinery or systems

Etymology: "Subassemblies" is simply the plural of "subassembly," a noun for a component built separately and then fitted into a larger whole. It is a plain compound: the prefix "sub-," from Latin "sub" meaning "under" or "below," attached to "assembly," which descends from the verb "assemble," meaning to bring together or fit parts into one thing. The prefix does most of the work here. Its sense of "lesser" or "subordinate" to something larger appears throughout English, so a subassembly is a smaller unit that feeds into a bigger one, much as a subcommittee reports to a committee. The "assembly" half carries the idea of gathering separate pieces into a single unit, a meaning that has long applied to machinery and manufacturing.

Synonyms: components, parts