subtaken

Subtaken is a term used in niche contexts to denote a secondary or subordinate capture or subset arising within a larger action or dataset. It can function as an adjective (a subtaken shot) or a noun (a subtaken).

Etymology and scope: The word is formed from sub- meaning under or secondary and taken, the past participle of take. It emerged in early 21st-century jargon within film, video production, and data-collection communities. It remains informal and is not widely standardized in dictionaries.

In film and media: A subtaken shot or sequence refers to an additional take captured after the principal take, intended to provide alternative performances, camera angles, or coverage for editing. Subtaken shots are often planned as part of coverage or used as a backup to ensure options during the editing process.

In data and computation: In data workflows, subtaken can describe a smaller subset drawn from a larger data capture for testing, validation, or exploratory analysis. While it emphasizes the act of taking a portion alongside a main dataset, more common terms such as subsample or subset are typically used in formal contexts.

Relationship to related terms: Subtaken is related to alternate takes and second takes in production, and to subsampling and subsetting in data science. Its usage is variable and often regional; practitioners may prefer established terminology in formal settings.

See also: alternate take, second take, subsampling, subset, data sampling.