substratum

[suhb-strey-tuh m, -strat-uh m, suhb-strey-tuh m, -strat-uh m]

SEE MORE 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.

Compare superstratum.

Origin of substratum

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

Related formssub·stra·tive, sub·stra·tal, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for substratum

foundation, seating, footing, bedrock, infrastructure, bottom, groundwork, support, basement, rest, seat, basis, stand, bed, fundament, foot, pedestal, root, ground, substructure

Examples from the Web for substratum

Historical Examples of substratum

The bottom was quite even and flat, resting upon a substratum of coral.
Adrift on the Pacific
Edward S. Ellis
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
The substratum was showing itself for a moment in the character of the Countess.
Earl Hubert's Daughter
Emily Sarah Holt
For only that which has matter as its substratum can be quantitatively differentiated.
A History of Mediaeval Jewish Philosophy
Isaac Husik

British Dictionary definitions for substratum

substratum

noun plural -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 baseSometimes 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 contactCompare superstratum (def. 2)

Derived Formssubstrative or substratal, adjective

Word Origin for substratum

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

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

Word Origin and History for substratum

1630s, from Modern Latin substratum (plural substrata), neuter singular past participle of Latin substernere "to spread underneath," from sub- (see sub-) + sternere (see stratum).

substratum in Science

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.