1. A culture made by transferring to a fresh medium microorganisms from a previous culture; a method used to prolong the life of a particular strain where there is a tendency to degeneration in older cultures. 2. To make a fresh culture with material obtained from a previous one.
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sub·cul·ture 'səb-.kəl-chər n
1) a culture (as of bacteria) derived from another culture
2) an act or instance of producing a subculture
sub·cul·tur·al -'kəlch-(ə-)rəl adj
sub·cul·tur·al·ly -ē adv
subculture vt, -tured; -tur·ing to culture (as bacteria) anew on a fresh medium by inoculation from an older culture
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sub·cul·ture (subґkul″chər) 1. a culture of bacteria derived from another culture. 2. the act of preparing a fresh culture from an existing one.Medical dictionary. 2011.