something that is spread or laid under something else; a stratum or layer lying under another.
something that underlies or serves as a basis or foundation.
Agriculture. the subsoil.
Biology. the base or material on which a nonmotile organism lives or grows.
Philosophy. substance, considered as that which supports accidents or attributes.
Photography. a layer of material placed directly on a film or plate as a foundation for the sensitive emulsion.
Historical Linguistics. a set of features of a language traceable to the influence of an earlier language that it has replaced, especially among a subjugated population: The French word for 80, quatre-vingts (“four twenties”), may reflect a Celtic substratum.
the nonliving material on which an animal or plant grows or lives
geology
the solid rock underlying soils, gravels, etc; bedrock
the surface to which a fixed organism is attached
sociolany of several subdivisions or grades within a stratum
photoga binding layer by which an emulsion is made to adhere to a glass or film baseSometimes shortened to: sub
philosophysubstance considered as that in which attributes and accidents inhere
linguisticsthe language of an indigenous population when replaced by the language of a conquering or colonizing population, esp as it influences the form of the dominant language or of any mixed languages arising from their contactCompare superstratum (def. 2)
Derived Formssubstrativeorsubstratal, adjective
Word Origin for substratum
C17: from New Latin, from Latin substrātus strewn beneath, from substernere to spread under, from sub- + sternere to spread
1630s, from Modern Latin substratum (plural substrata), neuter singular past participle of Latin substernere "to spread underneath," from sub- (see sub-) + sternere (see stratum).
