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

Unlike the rigid glass surface of a standard smartphone, foldables use an OLED display mounted on a flexible plastic substrate and covered with ultra-thin glass (UTG) that's thinner than a human hair and capable of bending. — Stephen J. Beard, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026

Sensorial instincts are vital because water gilding—the application of a micro-thin layer of metal or other ornamental substrate to a surface—is an art form of more than 18 steps, some featuring processes going back 5,000 years. — Clare Coulson, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026

Researchers deposit and pattern optical waveguides, which act as tiny pathways for light, on a silicon substrate. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026

Saturated in velvety blues, reds, and blacks, Zumthor’s surfaces all but vibrate; the subtle variations in the application of the paint and the alchemy of the pigment on the concrete substrate bring the walls maximally to life. — Katy Barkan, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin substratum

First Known Use

1730, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for substrate

• abate
• airfreight
• await
• baseplate
• berate
• birthdate
• birthrate
• bookplate
• borate
• breastplate
• bromate
• casemate

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)