substrate
UK: ˈsʌbstreɪt | US: ˈsʌbstreɪt
n. 1. A layer or material beneath another; the base on which an organism lives or grows.
n. 2. (Biochemistry) A substance acted upon by an enzyme.
n. 3. (Linguistics) A language influencing another through contact.
The word substrate originates from Latin substratum (past participle of substernere, "to spread beneath"). It combines sub- (under) and stratum (layer), reflecting the idea of a foundational layer supporting something above. Over time, it expanded into scientific fields (e.g., biology, chemistry) to denote underlying materials or reactive substances.
The bacteria grew rapidly on the nutrient-rich substrate.
Enzymes bind to their substrate to catalyze reactions.
The linguist studied the indigenous substrate in the regional dialect.
The artist prepared a wooden substrate for the painting.
Silicon wafers serve as a substrate in microchip production.