Skip to content
WORDS, MADE CLEAR.
Your everyday English companion

Home/Dictionary/substrate
English dictionary

substrate Meaning & Definition

/ˈsʌbˌstɹeɪt/

What Does Substrate Mean?

Substrate is a noun that means An underlying layer; a substratum. It can also mean The substance lining the bottom edge of an enclosure. As a verb, it means To strew or lay under. As an adjective, it means Having very slight furrows.

Substrate at a Glance

Part of speechnoun, verb, adjective
Pronunciation/ˈsʌbˌstɹeɪt/
Synonymssubstratum and underlayer
Pluralsubstrates
Comparative / superlativemore substrate, most substrate
Verb formssubstrates, substrating, substrated

Substrate Definition (Noun)

  1. An underlying layer; a substratum.
  2. The substance lining the bottom edge of an enclosure.

    The substrate of an aquarium can affect the water's acidity.

  3. A substance acted upon, as by an enzyme.
  4. A surface on which an organism grows, or to which an organism or an item is attached.

    The rock surface of a rockpool is the substrate for a sessile organism such as a limpet.

  5. A language that is replaced in a population by another language and that influences the language imposed on its speakers.
  6. A metal which is plated with another metal which has different physical properties.
  7. A surface to which a substance adheres.

Substrate as a Verb

  1. To strew or lay under.

Substrate as an Adjective

  1. Having very slight furrows.

Noun

  1. What an enzyme acts upon.
  2. (plating) A metal which is plated with another metal which has different physical properties.

Synonyms of Substrate

Substrate synonyms and antonyms →

Substrate in a Sentence

The substrate of an aquarium can affect the water's acidity.

Stream substrate affects fish longevity.

The rock surface of a rockpool is the substrate for a sessile organism such as a limpet.

Word Forms & Grammar

substrate (plural substrates)

substrate (third-person singular simple present substrates, present participle substrating, simple past and past participle substrated)

substrate (comparative more substrate, superlative most substrate)

Words That Rhyme With Substrate

Origin of Substrate

Anglicization of substratum.

Quick Answers About Substrate

Is substrate a noun or a verb?

Substrate is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb and an adjective.

What is another word for substrate?

You can replace substrate with words such as substratum and underlayer. See the full list of substrate synonyms and antonyms.

What is the plural of substrate?

The plural of substrate is substrates.

What is the past tense of substrate?

The past tense of substrate is substrated. The present participle is substrating.

What are the comparative and superlative forms of substrate?

The comparative form is more substrate and the superlative form is most substrate.

More About Substrate On Meaning Stash

More Words Starting With “Subs”