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Glossary · Nouns · S

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TermTypeDefinitionClassificationsUpdated
Superoxidenouna metallic oxide containing the univalent anion O2-verifiedMay 18, 2026
Superoxide DismutasenounMWEan enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of superoxide into hydrogen peroxide and oxygenverifiedMay 18, 2026
Superpatriotismnounfanatical patriotismverifiedMay 18, 2026
Superphylumnoun(biology) a taxonomic group ranking between a phylum and below a class or subclassverifiedMay 18, 2026
Superpositionnoun(geometry) the placement of one object ideally in the position of another one in order to show that the two coincideverifiedMay 18, 2026
Superposition PrinciplenounMWE(geology) the principle that in a series of stratified sedimentary rocks the lowest stratum is the oldestverifiedMay 18, 2026
Superpowernouna state powerful enough to influence events throughout the worldverifiedMay 18, 2026
Superscriptionnounan inscription written above something elseverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supersedurenounact of replacing one person or thing by another especially one held to be superiorverifiedMay 18, 2026
SupersessionnounScheduled or unscheduled replacement of COMSEC material with a different edition.ProcessMay 9, 2026
Superslashernounlarge (20-ft) and swift carnivorous dinosaur having an upright slashing claw 15 inches long on each hind footverifiedMay 18, 2026
Superstarnounsomeone who is dazzlingly skilled in any fieldverifiedMay 18, 2026
Superstitionnounan irrational belief arising from ignorance or fearverifiedMay 18, 2026
Superstitious NotionnounMWEan irrational belief arising from ignorance or fearverifiedMay 18, 2026
Superstratenounthe language of a later invading people that is imposed on an indigenous population and contributes features to their languageverifiedMay 18, 2026
Superstratumnounthe language of a later invading people that is imposed on an indigenous population and contributes features to their languageverifiedMay 18, 2026
Superstringnouna hypothetical particle that is the elementary particle in a theory of space-timeverifiedMay 18, 2026
Superstructurenounstructure consisting of the part of a ship above the main deckverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supersymmetrynouna theory in physics that tries to link the four fundamental forcesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supertankernounthe largest class of oil tankersverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supertaxnounan additional tax on certain kinds of income that has already been taxedverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supertitlenountranslation of the words of a foreign opera (or choral work) projected on a screen above the stageverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supertonicnoun(music) the second note of a diatonic scaleverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supertwisternounthe most powerful tornado which can create enormously devastating damageverifiedMay 18, 2026
Superventionnouna following on in additionverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supervised LearningnounMWEFor a computer to process a set of data whose attributes have been divided into two groups and derive a relationship between the values of one and the values of the other. These two groups are sometimes called predictor and targets, respectively. In statistical terminology, they are called independent and dependent variables. Respectively. The learning Is "supervised because the distinction between the predictors and the target variables is chosen by the investigator or some other outside agency.CapabilityAug 28, 2026
Supervisingnounmanagement by overseeing the performance or operation of a person or groupverifiedMay 18, 2026
supervisionnounThe action of overseeing the performance or operation of a person or group.ProcessMay 9, 2026
Supervisornouna program that controls the execution of other programsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supervisor Call InstructionnounMWEan instruction that interrupts the program being executed and passes control to the supervisorverifiedMay 18, 2026
supervisory agencynounMWEThis role focuses on the examination or auditing of financial records of financial institutions. Any state authority that is required by law to examine or audit financial records should be assigned to this role.OrganizationRegulatedMay 9, 2026
Supervisory control and data acquisitionnounMWEA generic name for a computerized system that is capable of gathering and processing data and applying operational controls over long distances. Typical uses include power transmission and distribution and pipeline systems. SCADA was designed for the unique communication challenges (delays, data integrity, etc.) posed by the various media that must be used, such as phone lines, microwave, and satellite. Usually shared rather than dedicated.SystemRegulatedCUIAug 30, 2026
Supervisory ProgramnounMWEa program that controls the execution of other programsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supervisory RoutinenounMWEa routine that coordinates the operation of subroutinesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supervisory SoftwarenounMWEspecialized programs that reside permanently in the computer's main memory and control the processing of user's programsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supinationnounrotation of the hands and forearms so that the palms face upwardverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supinatornouna muscle (especially in the forearm) that produces or assists in supinationverifiedMay 18, 2026
Suppernouna social gathering where a light evening meal is servedverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supper ClubnounMWEusually a small luxurious nightclubverifiedMay 18, 2026
Suppertimenounthe customary or habitual hour for the evening mealverifiedMay 18, 2026
Suppingnouningestion of liquid food with a spoon or by drinkingverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supplanternounone who wrongfully or illegally seizes and holds the place of anotherverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supplantingnounact of taking the place of another especially using underhanded tacticsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supplejacknounwalking stick made from the wood of an American tropical vineverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supplementary BenefitnounMWEbenefits paid to bring incomes up to minimum levels established by lawverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supplementationnouna quantity added (e.g. to make up for a deficiency)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Supplementation Assessment ProceduresnounMWEThe process of adding assessment procedures or assessment details to assessment procedures in order to adequately meet the organization’s risk management needs.ProcessMay 9, 2026
Supplementation Security ControlsnounMWEThe process of adding security controls or control enhancements to a security control baseline from NIST Special Publication 800-53 or CNSS Instruction 1253 in order to adequately meet the organization’s risk management needs.ProcessInternalMay 9, 2026
Supplenessnounthe gracefulness of a person or animal that is flexible and suppleverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supplicationnounthe act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)verifiedMay 18, 2026
suppliernounSee vendor .OrganizationMay 9, 2026
supply chainnounMWEA system of organizations, people, activities, information, and resources, possibly international in scope, that provides products or services to consumers.ProcessAug 30, 2026
Supply Chain AttacknounMWEAttacks that allow the adversary to utilize implants or other vulnerabilities inserted prior to installation in order to infiltrate data, or manipulate information technology hardware, software, operating systems, peripherals (information technology products) or services at any point during the life cycle.ThreatRegulatedCUIMay 9, 2026
supply chain risknounMWEA risk measured by the likelihood and severity of damage if an Information Technology or Operations Technology system is compromised by a supply chain attack, and takes into account the importance of the system and the impact of compromise on organizational operations and assets, individuals, other organizations, and the Nation. Supply chain attacks may involve manipulating computing system hardware, software, or services at any point during the life cycle. Supply chain attacks are typically conducted or facilitated by individuals or organizations that have access through commercial ties, leading to stolen critical data and technology, corruption of the system/ infrastructure, and/or disabling of mission-critical operations.ThreatRegulatedAug 30, 2026
Supply Chain Risk ManagementnounMWEThe process of identifying, analyzing, and assessing supply chain risk and accepting, avoiding, transferring or controlling it to an acceptable level considering associated costs and benefits of any actions taken.ProcessRegulatedAug 28, 2026
supply chain risk management processnounMWEThe implementation through controls and structures of strategies to manage both everyday and exceptional risks along the supply chain based on continuous risk assessment with the objective of reducing vulnerability and ensuring continuity.ProcessRegulatedAug 30, 2026
Supply ChambernounMWEa mechanical device for holding something and supplying it as neededverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supply ClosetnounMWEa closet for storing suppliesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supply LinenounMWEa route over which supplies can be deliveredverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supply OfficernounMWEa commissioned officer responsible for logisticsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supply RoutenounMWEa route over which supplies can be deliveredverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supply ShipnounMWEship that usually provides supplies to other shipsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supply-Side EconomicsnounMWEthe school of economic theory that stresses the costs of production as a means of stimulating the economyverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supplyingnounthe activity of supplying or providing somethingverifiedMay 18, 2026
Support ColumnnounMWEa column that supports a heavy weightverifiedMay 18, 2026
support functionnounMWEA category of operational activity within a system or organization that enables, maintains, or oversees the primary mission — encompassing roles such as configuration management, quality assurance, testing, system administration, programming, and network security. NIST distinguishes "support functions" from "mission or business functions," treating them as the infrastructure-oriented counterpart to direct mission execution. In the field, the expression is used principally in the context of separation of duties: organizations are required to divide mission functions and support functions among different individuals or roles — and to further divide system support functions across distinct individuals even within that category (e.g., quality assurance, configuration management, network security, system management, assessments, and programming) — so that no single person accumulates enough access or authority to commit or conceal malfeasance. This directly addresses the potential for abuse of authorized privileges and reduces the risk of malevolent activity without collusion.ProcessInternalAug 30, 2026
Support HosenounMWEelasticized stocking intended to reduce pressure on the veins of the leg (as in case of varicose veins)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Support LevelnounMWEthe price at which a certain security becomes attractive to investors on the stock marketverifiedMay 18, 2026
Support PaymentnounMWEa payment made by one person for the support of anotherverifiedMay 18, 2026
Support StockingnounMWEelasticized stocking intended to reduce pressure on the veins of the leg (as in case of varicose veins)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Support SystemnounMWEa network of facilities and people who interact and remain in informal communication for mutual assistanceverifiedMay 18, 2026
Support Vector MachinesnounMWEA supervised machine learning model for data classification and regression analysis. One of the most used classifiers in machine learning. It optimizes the width of the gap between the points of separate categories in feature space.SystemAug 28, 2026
Supporternouna band (usually elastic) worn around the leg to hold up a stocking (or around the arm to hold up a sleeve)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Supporting FirenounMWEfire delivered by supporting units to protect or assist a unit in combatverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supporting PlayersnounMWEa cast other than the principalsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supporting StructurenounMWEa structure that serves to support somethingverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supporting TowernounMWEa tower that serves to support somethingverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supposalnouna hypothesis that is taken for grantedverifiedMay 18, 2026
Suppositionnouna message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidenceverifiedMay 18, 2026
Suppositorynouna small plug of medication designed for insertion into the rectum or vagina where it meltsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Suppressantnouna drug that suppresses appetiteverifiedMay 18, 2026
Suppressernouna gene that suppresses the phenotypic expression of another gene (especially of a mutant gene)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Suppresser GenenounMWEa gene that suppresses the phenotypic expression of another gene (especially of a mutant gene)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Suppressionnounthe act of withholding or withdrawing some book or writing from publication or circulationverifiedMay 18, 2026
Suppression MeasurenounMWEAction, procedure, modification, or device that reduces the level of, or inhibits the generation of, compromising emanations in an information system.ControlRegulatedCUIAug 30, 2026
Suppressive FirenounMWEfire on or about a weapon system to degrade its performance below what is needed to fulfill its mission objectivesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Suppressornouna gene that suppresses the phenotypic expression of another gene (especially of a mutant gene)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Suppressor GenenounMWEa gene that suppresses the phenotypic expression of another gene (especially of a mutant gene)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Suppurating SorenounMWEa sore that has become inflamed and formed pusverifiedMay 18, 2026
Suppurationnoun(medicine) the formation of morbific matter in an abscess or a vesicle and the discharge of pusverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supra ExpressionismnounMWEa movement that tried to go beyond expressionismverifiedMay 18, 2026
Suprainfectionnounsecondary infection caused by an opportunistic infectionverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supraorbital RidgenounMWEa ridge on the frontal bone above the eye socketverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supraorbital TorusnounMWEa ridge on the frontal bone above the eye socketverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supraorbital VeinnounMWEdrains the front of the scalpverifiedMay 18, 2026
Suprarenal GlandnounMWEeither of a pair of complex endocrine glands situated near the kidneyverifiedMay 18, 2026
Suprarenalectomynounsurgical removal of one or both adrenal glandsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supratrochlear VeinnounMWEdrains the front of the scalpverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supremacismnounthe belief that some particular group or race is superior to all othersverifiedMay 18, 2026
Supremacistnouna person who advocates the supremacy of some particular group or race over all othersverifiedMay 18, 2026