stratify

[ strat-uh-fahy ]
See synonyms for stratify on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),strat·i·fied, strat·i·fy·ing.
  1. to form or place in strata or layers.

  2. to preserve or germinate (seeds) by placing them between layers of earth.

  1. Sociology. to arrange in a hierarchical order, especially according to graded status levels.

verb (used without object),strat·i·fied, strat·i·fy·ing.
  1. to form strata.

  2. Geology. to lie in beds or layers.

  1. Sociology. to develop hierarchically, especially as graded status levels.

Origin of stratify

1
1655–65; modeled on New Latin strātificāre, equivalent to strāti-strati- + -ficāre-fy

Other words from stratify

  • de-strat·i·fy, verb (used with object), de-strat·i·fied, de-strat·i·fy·ing.
  • mul·ti·strat·i·fied, adjective
  • non·strat·i·fied, adjective
  • sem·i·strat·i·fied, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for stratify

stratify

/ (ˈstrætɪˌfaɪ) /


verb-fies, -fying or -fied
  1. to form or be formed in layers or strata

  2. (tr) to preserve or render fertile (seeds) by storing between layers of sand or earth

  1. sociol to divide (a society) into horizontal status groups or (of a society) to develop such groups

Origin of stratify

1
C17: from French stratifier, from New Latin stratificāre, from Latin stratum

Derived forms of stratify

  • stratified, adjective

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