something that is spread or laid under something else; a stratum or layer lying under another.
2.
something that underlies or serves as a basis or foundation.
3.
Agriculture. the subsoil.
4.
Biology. the base or material on which a nonmotile organism lives or grows.
5.
Philosophy. substance, considered as that which supports accidents or attributes.
6.
Photography. a layer of material placed directly on a film or plate as a foundation for the sensitive emulsion.
7.
Historical Linguistics. a set of features of a language traceable to the influence of an earlier language that it has replaced, esp. among a subjugated population: The French word for 80, quatre-vingts (“four twenties”), may reflect a Celtic substratum.
sub·stra·tumAudio Help (sŭb'strā'təm, -strāt'əm) Pronunciation Key
n.
pl.sub·stra·ta (-strā'tə, -strāt'ə) or sub·stra·tums
An underlying layer.
A layer of earth beneath the surface soil; subsoil.
A foundation or groundwork.
The material on which another material is coated or fabricated.
Philosophy The characterless substance that supports attributes of reality.
Biology A substrate.
Linguistics A substrate.
[New Latin substrātum, from neuter of Latin substrātus, past participle of substernere, to lay under : sub-, sub- + sternere, to stretch, spread; see ster-2 in Indo-European roots.]
a surface on which an organism grows or is attached; "the gardener talked about the proper substrate for acid-loving plants" [syn: substrate]
2.
any stratum or layer lying underneath another [syn: substrate]
3.
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" [syn: substrate]
Sub*strate"\, v. t. [L. substratus, p. p. of substrahere. See Substratum.] To strew or lay under anything. [Obs.] The melted glass being supported by the substrated sand. --Boyle.
![[P]](http://cache.lexico.com/g/d/premium_mh.gif){kind=small}
Audio Help [suhb-strey-tuh
