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noun, plural stra·ta 
[strey-tuh, strat-uh] , stra·tums.
[strey-tuh, strat-uh] , stra·tums. 1.
a layer of material, naturally or artificially formed, often one of a number of parallel layers one upon another: a stratum of ancient foundations.
2.
one of a number of portions or divisions likened to layers or levels: an allegory with many strata of meaning.
3.
Geology. a single bed of sedimentary rock, generally consisting of one kind of matter representing continuous deposition.
4.
Biology. a layer of tissue; lamella.
5.
EXPANDEcology. (in a plant community) a layer of vegetation, usually of the same or similar height.
6.
a layer of the ocean or the atmosphere distinguished by natural or arbitrary limits.
7.
Sociology. a level or grade of a people or population with reference to social position, education, etc.: the lowest stratum of society.
8.
COLLAPSELinguistics. (in stratificational grammar) a major subdivision of linguistic structure. Compare level (def. 17).
Origin:
1590–1600; < Latin strātum literally, a cover, noun use of neuter of strātus, past participle of sternere to spread, strew, equivalent to strā- variant stem + -tus past participle suffix
1590–1600; < Latin strātum literally, a cover, noun use of neuter of strātus, past participle of sternere to spread, strew, equivalent to strā- variant stem + -tus past participle suffix
Related forms
stra·tous, adjective
Usage note
Strata, historically the plural of stratum, is occasionally used as a singular: The lowest economic strata consists of the permanently unemployable. Less frequently, a plural stratas occurs: Several stratas of settlement can be seen in the excavation. At present, these uses are not well established, and they are condemned in usage guides. EXPANDStrata may eventually become part of a group of borrowed plurals that are now used as singulars in English, such as agenda and candelabra, but it is not yet in that category. See also agenda, criterion, media, phenomenon.
COLLAPSE
Strata, historically the plural of stratum, is occasionally used as a singular: The lowest economic strata consists of the permanently unemployable. Less frequently, a plural stratas occurs: Several stratas of settlement can be seen in the excavation. At present, these uses are not well established, and they are condemned in usage guides. EXPANDStrata may eventually become part of a group of borrowed plurals that are now used as singulars in English, such as agenda and candelabra, but it is not yet in that category. See also agenda, criterion, media, phenomenon.
COLLAPSE
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To stratums
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Stratums
is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
| a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, as after a rhetorical question. |
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
stratum
"horizontal layer," 1599, from Mod.L., special use of L. stratum "thing spread out, coverlet, pavement," from neut. pp. of sternere "to spread out, lay down, stretch out," from PIE *stre-to- "to stretch, extend," from base *stere- "to spread, extend, stretch out" (see structure).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
stratum stra·tum (strā'təm, strāt'əm)
n. pl. stra·tums or stra·ta (-tə)
A horizontal layer of material, especially one of several parallel layers arranged one on top of another.
Any of the layers of differentiated tissue forming an anatomical structure.
stra'tal (-təl) adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Science Dictionary
| stratum (strā'təm, strāt'əm) Pronunciation Key
Plural strata or stratums
|
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
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