(1) A character that is printed one-half line below the normal printing line. For example, the number 2 in the chemical formula for water, H 2 O, is a subscript. See also superscript.
(2) In COBOL, a positive number or variable whose value refers to a particular item in a table.
(3) One or more expressions, each enclosed in brackets, that follow an array name. A subscript refers to an element in an array.
(4) An integer or variable whose value selects a particular element in a table or array.