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stratum
(redirected from Stratum spinosum)

   Also found in: Medical, Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.03 sec.
stra·tum  (strtm, strtm)
n. pl. stra·ta (-t) or stra·tums
1. A horizontal layer of material, especially one of several parallel layers arranged one on top of another.
2. Geology A bed or layer of sedimentary rock having approximately the same composition throughout.
3. Any of the regions of the atmosphere, such as the troposphere, that occur as layers.
4. Biology A layer of tissue: the epithelial stratum.
5. A level of society composed of people with similar social, cultural, or economic status.
6. One of a number of layers, levels, or divisions in an organized system: a complex poem with many strata of meaning.

[Latin strtum, a covering, from neuter past participle of sternere, to spread; see stratus.]

stratal (strtl) adj.
Usage Note: The standard singular form is stratum; the standard plural is strata (or sometimes stratums), not stratas.

stratum [ˈstrɑːtəm]
n pl -ta [-tə], -tums
1. (Earth Sciences / Geological Science) (usually plural) any of the distinct layers into which sedimentary rocks are divided
2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Biology) Biology a single layer of tissue or cells
3. a layer of any material, esp one of several parallel layers
4. (Earth Sciences / Physical Geography) a layer of ocean or atmosphere either naturally or arbitrarily demarcated
5. (Sociology) a level of a social hierarchy that is distinguished according to such criteria as educational achievement or caste status
[via New Latin from Latin: something strewn, from sternere to scatter]
stratal  adj

stratum  (strtm, strtm)
Plural strata or stratums
1. A layer of sedimentary rock whose composition is more or less the same throughout and that is visibly different from the rock layers above and below it.
2. A layer of tissue, as of the skin or another organ.

Stratum one of a number of layers, 1902.
Examples: stratum of society, 1850; of mythological thought, 1870; the lower social stratum, 1902.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.stratum - one of several parallel layers of material arranged one on top of another (such as a layer of tissue or cells in an organism or a layer of sedimentary rock)stratum - one of several parallel layers of material arranged one on top of another (such as a layer of tissue or cells in an organism or a layer of sedimentary rock)
organism, being - a living thing that has (or can develop) the ability to act or function independently
epidermis, cuticle - the outer layer of the skin covering the exterior body surface of vertebrates
corneum, horny layer, stratum corneum - the outermost layer of the epidermis consisting of dead cells that slough off
stratum lucidum - the layer of epidermis immediately under the stratum corneum in the skin of the palms and soles
stratum granulosum - the layer of epidermis just under the stratum corneum or (on the palms and soles) just under the stratum lucidum; contains cells (with visible granules) that die and move to the surface
malpighian layer, rete Malpighii, stratum basale, stratum germinativum - the innermost layer of the epidermis
corium, derma, dermis - the deep vascular inner layer of the skin
cambium - the inner layer of the periosteum
paries, wall - (anatomy) a layer (a lining or membrane) that encloses a structure; "stomach walls"
layer - a relatively thin sheetlike expanse or region lying over or under another
substratum, substrate - any stratum or layer lying underneath another
superstrate, superstratum - any stratum or layer superimposed on another
horizon - a specific layer or stratum of soil or subsoil in a vertical cross section of land
seam, bed - a stratum of ore or coal thick enough to be mined with profit; "he worked in the coal beds"
bed - (geology) a stratum of rock (especially sedimentary rock); "they found a bed of sandstone"
2.stratum - people having the same social, economic, or educational status; "the working class"; "an emerging professional class"
people - (plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively; "old people"; "there were at least 200 people in the audience"
world, domain - people in general; especially a distinctive group of people with some shared interest; "the Western world"
society - an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
age class - people in the same age range
agriculture - the class of people engaged in growing food
sodality, brotherhood, fraternity - people engaged in a particular occupation; "the medical fraternity"
estate of the realm, the three estates, estate - a major social class or order of persons regarded collectively as part of the body politic of the country (especially in the United Kingdom) and formerly possessing distinct political rights
labor, labour, proletariat, working class - a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages; "there is a shortage of skilled labor in this field"
lower class, underclass - the social class lowest in the social hierarchy
bourgeoisie, middle class - the social class between the lower and upper classes
booboisie - class consisting of all those who are considered boobs
commonality, commonalty, commons - a class composed of persons lacking clerical or noble rank
peasantry - the class of peasants
demimonde - a class of woman not considered respectable because of indiscreet or promiscuous behavior
underworld - the criminal class
yeomanry - class of small freeholders who cultivated their own land
caste - a social class separated from others by distinctions of hereditary rank or profession or wealth
caste - (Hinduism) a hereditary social class among Hindus; stratified according to ritual purity
class structure - the organization of classes within a society
upper class, upper crust - the class occupying the highest position in the social hierarchy
ninja - a class of 14th century Japanese who were trained in martial arts and were hired for espionage and assassinations
firing line - the most advanced and responsible group in an activity; "the firing line is where the action is"
immigrant class - recent immigrants who are lumped together as a class by their low socioeconomic status in spite of different cultural backgrounds
center - politically moderate persons; centrists
old school - a class of people favoring traditional ideas
market - the customers for a particular product or service; "before they publish any book they try to determine the size of the market for it"
craft, trade - people who perform a particular kind of skilled work; "he represented the craft of brewers"; "as they say in the trade"
fair sex, womanhood, woman - women as a class; "it's an insult to American womanhood"; "woman is the glory of creation"; "the fair sex gathered on the veranda"
3.stratum - an abstract place usually conceived as having depth; "a good actor communicates on several levels"; "a simile has at least two layers of meaning"; "the mind functions on many strata simultaneously"
place - an abstract mental location; "he has a special place in my thoughts"; "a place in my heart"; "a political system with no place for the less prominent groups"

stratum
noun
1. class, group, level, station, estate, rank, grade, category, bracket, caste It was an enormous task that affected every stratum of society.
2. layer, level, seam, table, bed, vein, tier, stratification, lode The rock strata shows that the region was intensely dry 15,000 years ago.
Translations
stratum [ˈstrɑːtəm] N (stratums or strata (pl))
1. (lit) → estrato m
2. (fig) → estrato m, capa f
stratum [ˈstrɑːtəm] [strata] (pl) n
(GEOLOGY)strate f
[society] → strate f
stratum
n pl <strata> (Geol, fig) → Schicht f
stratum [ˈstrɑːtəm] n (strata (pl)) (also) (fig) → strato


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