substratum (redirected from substrata)

sub·stra·tum  (sbstrtm, -strtm)

n. pl. sub·stra·ta (-strt, -strt) or sub·stra·tums

1.

a. An underlying layer.

b. A layer of earth beneath the surface soil; subsoil.

2. A foundation or groundwork.

3. The material on which another material is coated or fabricated.

4. Philosophy The characterless substance that supports attributes of reality.

5. Biology A substrate.

6. Linguistics A substrate.

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[New Latin substrtum, from neuter of Latin substrtus, past participle of substernere, to lay under : sub-, sub- + sternere, to stretch, spread; see ster-² in Indo-European roots.]

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sub·strative adj.

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substratum  (sbstrtm, -strtm)

Plural substrata or substratums

1. An underlying layer or stratum.

2. A surface on which an organism grows or is attached; a substrate.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	substratum - a surface on which an organism grows or is attached; "the gardener talked about the proper substrate for acid-loving plants" substrate surface - the extended two-dimensional outer boundary of a three-dimensional object; "they skimmed over the surface of the water"; "a brush small enough to clean every dental surface"; "the sun has no distinct surface"
	2.	substratum - any stratum or layer lying underneath another substrate 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)
	3.	substratum - an indigenous language that contributes features to the language of an invading people who impose their language on the indigenous population; "the Celtic languages of Britain are a substrate for English" substrate indigenous language - a language that originated in a specified place and was not brought to that place from elsewhere