stratum

stra·tum

S0798300 (strā′təm, străt′əm)n. pl. stra·ta (-tə) or stra·tums 1. A horizontal layer of material, especially one of several parallel layers arranged one on top of another.2. Geology A bed or layer of sedimentary rock that is visually distinguishable from adjacent beds or layers.3. Any of the regions of the atmosphere, such as the troposphere, that occur as layers.4. Biology A layer of tissue: the epithelial stratum.5. A level of society composed of people with similar social, cultural, or economic status.6. One of a number of layers, levels, or divisions in an organized system: a complex poem with many strata of meaning.

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[Latin strātum, a covering, from neuter past participle of sternere, to spread; see stratus.]

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stra′tal (strāt′l) adj.Usage Note: The standard singular form is stratum; the standard plural is strata (or sometimes stratums), not stratas.

stratum

(ˈstrɑːtəm) n, pl -ta (-tə) or -tums1. (Geological Science) (usually plural) any of the distinct layers into which sedimentary rocks are divided2. (Biology) biology a single layer of tissue or cells3. a layer of any material, esp one of several parallel layers4. (Physical Geography) a layer of ocean or atmosphere either naturally or arbitrarily demarcated5. (Sociology) a level of a social hierarchy that is distinguished according to such criteria as educational achievement or caste status[C16: via New Latin from Latin: something strewn, from sternere to scatter] ˈstratal adj

stra•tum

(ˈstreɪ təm, ˈstræt əm)

n., pl. stra•ta (ˈstreɪ tə, ˈstræt ə) stra•tums. 1. a layer of material, naturally or artificially formed, often formed one upon another. 2. layer; level: an allegory with many strata of meaning. 3. a single bed of sedimentary rock, generally consisting of one kind of matter representing continuous deposition. 4. a layer of tissue; lamella. 5. a layer of vegetation in a plant community. 6. a layer of the ocean or the atmosphere distinguished by natural or arbitrary limits. 7. a level or grade of a people or population esp. with reference to social position and education: the lowest stratum of society. [1590–1600; < Latin strātum literally, a cover, n. use of neuter of strātus, past participle of sternere to spread, strew] usage: The usual singular of this noun, taken from Latin, is stratum: the lowest stratum in society. The plural is strata: Several strata of settlement were discovered in the evacuation. Occasionally strata occurs as a singular and stratas as a plural. Neither of these uses is well established, and they are often regarded as errors. See also agenda, criterion, media.

stra·tum

(strā′təm, străt′əm) Plural strata or stratums 1. A layer of rock whose composition is more or less the same throughout. A particular rock stratum is visibly different from the rock strata above and below it.2. A layer of tissue, as of the skin or another organ.

Stratum

 one of a number of layers, 1902.Examples: stratum of society, 1850; of mythological thought, 1870; the lower social stratum, 1902.

stratum

A single sedimentary layer.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	stratum - one of several parallel layers of material arranged one on top of another (such as a layer of tissue or cells in an organism or a layer of sedimentary rock)organism, being - a living thing that has (or can develop) the ability to act or function independentlyepidermis, cuticle - the outer layer of the skin covering the exterior body surface of vertebratescorneum, horny layer, stratum corneum - the outermost layer of the epidermis consisting of dead cells that slough offstratum lucidum - the layer of epidermis immediately under the stratum corneum in the skin of the palms and solesstratum granulosum - the layer of epidermis just under the stratum corneum or (on the palms and soles) just under the stratum lucidum; contains cells (with visible granules) that die and move to the surfacemalpighian layer, rete Malpighii, stratum basale, stratum germinativum - the innermost layer of the epidermiscorium, derma, dermis - the deep vascular inner layer of the skincambium - the inner layer of the periosteumparies, wall - (anatomy) a layer (a lining or membrane) that encloses a structure; "stomach walls"layer - a relatively thin sheetlike expanse or region lying over or under anothersubstratum, substrate - any stratum or layer lying underneath anothersuperstrate, superstratum - any stratum or layer superimposed on anotherhorizon - a specific layer or stratum of soil or subsoil in a vertical cross section of landseam, bed - a stratum of ore or coal thick enough to be mined with profit; "he worked in the coal beds"bed - (geology) a stratum of rock (especially sedimentary rock); "they found a bed of sandstone"
	2.	stratum - people having the same social, economic, or educational status; "the working class"; "an emerging professional class"social class, socio-economic class, classpeople - (plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively; "old people"; "there were at least 200 people in the audience"world, domain - people in general; especially a distinctive group of people with some shared interest; "the Western world"society - an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organizationage class - people in the same age rangeagriculture - the class of people engaged in growing foodsodality, brotherhood, fraternity - people engaged in a particular occupation; "the medical fraternity"estate of the realm, the three estates, estate - a major social class or order of persons regarded collectively as part of the body politic of the country (especially in the United Kingdom) and formerly possessing distinct political rightslabor, labour, proletariat, working class - a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages; "there is a shortage of skilled labor in this field"lower class, underclass - the social class lowest in the social hierarchybourgeoisie, middle class - the social class between the lower and upper classesbooboisie - class consisting of all those who are considered boobscommonality, commonalty, commons - a class composed of persons lacking clerical or noble rankpeasantry - the class of peasantsdemimonde - a class of woman not considered respectable because of indiscreet or promiscuous behaviorunderworld - the criminal classyeomanry - class of small freeholders who cultivated their own landcaste - a social class separated from others by distinctions of hereditary rank or profession or wealthcaste - (Hinduism) a hereditary social class among Hindus; stratified according to ritual purityclass structure - the organization of classes within a societyupper class, upper crust - the class occupying the highest position in the social hierarchyninja - a class of 14th century Japanese who were trained in martial arts and were hired for espionage and assassinationsfiring line - the most advanced and responsible group in an activity; "the firing line is where the action is"immigrant class - recent immigrants who are lumped together as a class by their low socioeconomic status in spite of different cultural backgroundscenter - politically moderate persons; centristsold school - a class of people favoring traditional ideasmarket - the customers for a particular product or service; "before they publish any book they try to determine the size of the market for it"craft, trade - people who perform a particular kind of skilled work; "he represented the craft of brewers"; "as they say in the trade"fair sex, womanhood, woman - women as a class; "it's an insult to American womanhood"; "woman is the glory of creation"; "the fair sex gathered on the veranda"
	3.	stratum - an abstract place usually conceived as having depth; "a good actor communicates on several levels"; "a simile has at least two layers of meaning"; "the mind functions on many strata simultaneously"layer, levelplace - an abstract mental location; "he has a special place in my thoughts"; "a place in my heart"; "a political system with no place for the less prominent groups"

stratum

noun1. class, group, level, station, estate, rank, grade, category, bracket, caste It was an enormous task that affected every stratum of society.2. layer, level, seam, table, bed, vein, tier, stratification, lode The rock strata shows that the region was intensely dry 15,000 years ago.

Translations

gisementstratestratumstratostrato socialefalda