substratum

C2 Topic:Science & Research

US /ˈsʌbstreɪtəm/ UK /ˈsʌbstrɑːtəm/ See IPA manual

Freq #233429

Meanings

1

noun
a layer of material, especially rock or soil, lying beneath another layer

The builders found a firm substratum of clay below the loose soil.
2

noun
an underlying basis, condition, or influence beneath something more visible

Shared customs formed a cultural substratum beneath the political divisions.
3

noun
a language displaced by another language but leaving features in the language that replaces it

Linguists found evidence of a Celtic substratum in the regional vocabulary.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a layer of material,... underlayersubstrate

2 noun · an underlying basis,... foundation basis underpinning

3 noun · a language displaced by... substrate languagesubstrate

Opposites

surfacesuperstratum

Word family

Derived forms substrate

Related forms stratumsubstratalsuperstratum

Etymology

A learned borrowing from New Latin substratum, the neuter of Latin substratus, "strewn or spread beneath," from substernere. The Latin verb combines sub-, "under," with sternere, "to spread or strew." Figurative and linguistic uses preserve the idea of an underlying layer.

Topics

Science & Research

External links

# substratum

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈsʌbstreɪtəm/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈsʌbstrɑːtəm/
**Frequency rank:** 233429

## Meanings
1. a layer of material, especially rock or soil, lying beneath another layer
2. an underlying basis, condition, or influence beneath something more visible
3. a language displaced by another language but leaving features in the language that replaces it

## Examples
- The builders found a firm substratum of clay below the loose soil.
- Shared customs formed a cultural substratum beneath the political divisions.
- Linguists found evidence of a Celtic substratum in the regional vocabulary.

## Synonyms
- underlayer
- substrate
- foundation
- basis

## Antonyms
- surface
- superstratum

## Derived Forms
- substrate

## Related Forms
- stratum
- substratal
- superstratum

## Etymology
A learned borrowing from New Latin substratum, the neuter of Latin substratus, "strewn or spread beneath," from substernere. The Latin verb combines sub-, "under," with sternere, "to spread or strew." Figurative and linguistic uses preserve the idea of an underlying layer.

## Topics
- Science & Research

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