substratum
noun
sub·stra·tum ˈsəb-ˌstrā-təm 
-ˌstra-;
ˌsəb-ˈstrā-,
-ˈstra-
plural substrata ˈsəb-ˌstrā-tə
-ˌstra-;
ˌsəb-ˈstrā-,
-ˈstra-
: an underlying support : foundation: such as
a
: substance that is a permanent subject of qualities or phenomena
b
: the material of which something is made and from which it derives its special qualities
c
: a layer beneath the surface soil
specifically : subsoil
d
: substrate sense 2
e
linguistics : a component of a language (such as a part of its phonology, syntax, or lexicon) that remains from absorption of a pre-existing language in the region where the language is currently spoken
substratal
ˈsəb-ˌstrā-tᵊl
adjective -ˌstra-;
ˌsəb-ˈstrā-
-ˈstra-
Example Sentences
drilled into the bedrock substratum
Recent Examples on the Web The suffix -core comes from hard core, which at first (1841) referred to broken bricks or stones that formed the hard substratum of roads and foundations. 
Melissa Mohr, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Feb. 2022 Sessions is speaking to a real perception of a significant substratum of the American citizenry. Christopher Shea, Vox, 1 Aug. 2018 Severance occurs when the tail tip adheres to the substratum and the rest of the planarian pulls away. Chris Ciaccia, Fox News, 23 May 2018 Even here, though, abyssal tuba notes exposed a sonic substratum. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2017
Melissa Mohr, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Feb. 2022 Sessions is speaking to a real perception of a significant substratum of the American citizenry. Christopher Shea, Vox, 1 Aug. 2018 Severance occurs when the tail tip adheres to the substratum and the rest of the planarian pulls away. Chris Ciaccia, Fox News, 23 May 2018 Even here, though, abyssal tuba notes exposed a sonic substratum. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2017 Word History
Etymology
Medieval Latin, from Latin, neuter of substratus, past participle of substernere to spread under, from sub- + sternere to spread — more at strew
First Known Use
1631, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
substratum
noun
sub·stra·tum ˈsəb-ˌstrāt-əm, -ˌstrat-, ˈsəb-ˈ
plural substrata -ə
1
: the material of which something is made and from which it derives its special qualities
2
: substrate sense 2
substrata
noun
1
as in substructures
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- substructures
- shores
- frameworks
- beds
- infrastructures
- anchorages
- foundations
- mounts
- buttresses
- underpinnings
- roots
- supports
- bulwarks
- grounds
- warps
- props
- theories
- keystones
- bedrocks
- bases
- presuppositions
- presumptions
- cornerstones
- premises
- footings
- stays
- assumptions
- rationales
- nuclei
- justifications
- theses
- braces
- foci
- groundworks
- warp and woofs
- kernels
- suppositions
- warrants
- bottoms
- centers
- backbones
- nucleuses
- touchstones
- cores
- focuses
- essences
- hearts
- hubs
- premisses
- seats
- souls
- eyes
- quintessences
2
as in subsoils
Synonyms & Similar Words
- subsoils
- sediments
- silts
- marls
- detritus
- muds
- sands
- gravels
- alluvia
- kaolins
- clays
- loesses
- alluviums
- dust
- mulls
- duffs
- topsoils
- molds
- shingles
- muck
- colluvia
- colluviums
- loams
- blacklands
- gumbos
- earth
- clods
- gleys
- dirt
- gucks
- ground
- gaults
- gooks
- humuses
- norlander
- norlands
- norm
- norma
- normae
- normal
- normal barrage
- normal course of events
- normal curve
- normal curves
- normal dispersion
- normal distribution
- normal divisor
- normal dropper
- normal equation
- normal fault
- normal form
- normal honey
- normal horizontal separation
- normal minor scale
- normal moisture capacity
- normal orthogonal
- normal overlap
- normal pitch
- normal place