substratum

[ suhb-strey-tuhm, -strat-uhm, suhb-strey-tuhm, -strat-uhm ]

See synonyms for substratum on Thesaurus.com

noun,plural sub·stra·ta

[suhb-strey-tuh, -strat-uh, -suhb-strey-tuh, -strat-uh], /ˈsʌbˌstreɪ tə, -ˌstræt ə, -sʌbˈstreɪ tə, -ˈstræt ə/, sub·stra·tums.

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.

Origin of substratum

From New Latin, dating back to 1625–35; see origin at sub-, stratum

Other words from substratum

sub·stra·tive, sub·stra·tal, adjective

Compare superstratum.

Words Nearby substratum

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use substratum in a sentence

Still, there is a substratum of truth in the dirty monk's philosophy, as you'll find out before you are much older.
The Everlasting Arms | Joseph Hocking
A substratum of the oldest faith of the land has survived all the changes of seven thousand years.
The Cradle of Mankind | W.A. Wigram
Beneath Verinder's bland manner there lurked a substratum of triumph.
The Highgrader | William MacLeod Raine
"There may always be a substratum of friendship," she argued.
Tristram of Blent | Anthony Hope
Miracles are the substratum of the foundation underlying our faith.
Autobiography of Frank G. Allen, Minister of the Gospel | Frank G. Allen

British Dictionary definitions for substratum

substratum

/ (sʌbˈstrɑːtəm, -ˈstreɪ-) /

nounplural -strata (-ˈstrɑːtə, -ˈstreɪtə)

any layer or stratum lying underneath another
a basis or foundation; groundwork

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
sociol any of several subdivisions or grades within a stratum
photog a binding layer by which an emulsion is made to adhere to a glass or film base: Sometimes shortened to: sub
philosophy substance considered as that in which attributes and accidents inhere
linguistics the 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 contact: Compare superstratum (def. 2)

Origin of substratum

C17: from New Latin, from Latin substrātus strewn beneath, from substernere to spread under, from sub- + sternere to spread

Derived forms of substratum

substrative or substratal, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for substratum

substratum

[ sŭb′strā′təm, -străt′əm ]

Plural substrata substratums

An underlying layer or stratum.
A surface on which an organism grows or is attached; a substrate.

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