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

But that gap is narrowing fast thanks to recent developments in alternate conductors like aluminum, encapsulation layers and substrate materials. —Robert Lane, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025

This particular form of bioluminescence is caused by a chemical reaction of the substrate luciferin and enzyme luciferase, which combine to emit light. —Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 20 Mar. 2025

In lithography, light is used to imprint an intricate pattern onto a prepared silicon substrate. —Jayson Stewart, IEEE Spectrum, 5 Mar. 2025

The experiment consists of a small box of substrate (the equivalent of plant soil for growing mushrooms) and mycelium (the root-like structure of the fungus), which scientists hope will fruit into oyster mushrooms while traveling hundreds of miles above Earth’s surface. —Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025

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)