substratum

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substratum

/səbˈstrɑ.təm/
/səbˈstreɪ̯.təm/

Where it comes from

Learned borrowing from New Latin substrātum, nominalisation of the neuter of Latin substrātus, perfect passive participle of substernō. By surface analysis, sub- + stratum.

noun substrata

A layer that lies underneath another. ..; in this case it became necessary to employ a machine like the lapidary's wheel, partially to grind away the colored surface till the white substratum appeared.
Similar: underlayer
figuratively The underlying cause or basis of something. However exaggerated an estimate this might be, the substratum of truth was solid and auriferous enough to dazzle the imagination.
A substrate.

Translations

Every language

noun a layer that lies underneath another

Português	substrato
Italiano	substrato, sostrato
Ελληνικά	υπόστρωμα ypóstroma
Română	substrat
Русский	субстра́т substrát

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MLA

"substratum." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/substratum. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

substratum. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/substratum

Chicago

"substratum." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/substratum.

BibTeX

@misc{substratum_2026,
  title = {substratum},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/substratum},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}