substrate

noun

sub·​strate ˈsəb-ˌstrāt 

1

: substratum

2

: the base on which an organism lives

the soil is the substrate of most seed plants

3

: a substance acted upon (as by an enzyme)

Did you know?

With its Latin prefix sub-, "below", substrate obviously refers to a layer under something else. Rock may serve as the substrate for the coral in a coral reef. Tiny wafers of silicon (or another semiconductor) serve as the substrate for computer chips. Substrate may also mean subsoil—that is, the layer under the topsoil, lacking in organic matter or humus. Substrate is part of the vocabulary of various other sciences, including chemistry and biology. But although it's mostly a scientific term, writers may also use it to mean simply "foundation"—for instance, when observing that reading is the substrate on which most other learning is based.

Examples of substrate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For undrained containers, use a non-porous substrate like small stones or marbles. —Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 27 Nov. 2024

For drained containers, use potting mix (not outdoor garden soil) as a substrate to help hold the bulbs upright. —Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 27 Nov. 2024

That was the turning point of my career, really — looking at living organisms as a programming substrate. —Quanta Magazine, 4 Nov. 2024

Their mechanism consists of a substrate material that vibrates when a voltage is applied. —Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin substratum

First Known Use

1730, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

substrate

noun

sub·​strate ˈsəb-ˌstrāt 

1

: an underlying layer: as

a

: substratum sense a

b

: the base on which an organism lives or over which it moves

the soil is the substrate of most plants

2

: a substance acted upon (as by an enzyme)

Medical Definition

substrate

noun

sub·​strate ˈsəb-ˌstrāt 

1

: substratum sense 1

2

: the base on which an organism lives

3

: a substance acted upon (as by an enzyme)