stra·tum (str  t m, str tm)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 str tum, a covering, from neuter past participle of sternere, to spread; see stratus.]stra tal (strtl) adj.Usage Note: The standard singular form is stratum; the standard plural is strata (or sometimes stratums), not stratas. |
stratum [strah-tum, -ta]
Noun
pl -ta
1. any of the distinct layers into which certain rocks are divided
2. a layer of ocean or atmosphere marked off naturally or decided arbitrarily by man
3. a social class [Latin: something strewn]
| 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
| Noun | 1. |  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 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 cambium - the inner layer of the periosteum 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 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" | |
| 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 2. layer, level, seam, table, bed, vein, tier, stratification, lode
USAGE The word strata is the plural form of stratum, and should not be used as if it is a singular form: so you would say this stratum of society is often disregarded, or these strata of society are often disregarded, but not this strata of society is often disregarded.
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