substrate
- 01 C1 Advanced
the surface or material that a plant or animal lives and grows on.
the surface or medium on which an organism grows or is attached.
Simple“The coral larvae need a hard substrate like rock to attach themselves to.”
In context“In the intertidal zone, the type of substrate—whether sandy, muddy, or rocky—determines which species of invertebrates can successfully colonise the area.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
a substance that an enzyme acts on to cause a chemical reaction.
the specific compound or molecule upon which an enzyme acts to produce a chemical change.
Simple“The enzyme breaks down the substrate into smaller pieces of sugar.”
In context“The lock-and-key model describes how the enzyme's active site is shaped specifically to fit its corresponding substrate.”
Synonymsreactant - 03 C1 Advanced
a bottom layer or base that supports something else on top of it.
an underlying substance or layer; a substratum providing the foundation for another material.
Simple“The silicon substrate is the base for all the tiny parts in a computer chip.”
In context“Before applying the final decorative coating, the technician ensured the metal substrate was free of any oxidation or debris.”
Synonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
a language that was spoken in an area before a new one took over and influenced it.
a language of lower prestige which influences a dominant language that has replaced it in a population.
Simple“The local language acted as a substrate, changing how the new settlers spoke.”
In context“Linguists argue that the Celtic substrate significantly influenced the phonology and syntax of the English spoken in those specific regions.”
SynonymssubstratumAntonymssuperstrate
“Researchers at Hiroshima University compared the effects of two distinct carbon substrates—refined sucrose and sugarcane molasses, an inexpensive agricultural byproduct—on the EPSs produced by the bacterium Bacillus velezensis AZU-A3.”
“That's because it has to be deposited on a substrate at temperatures that typically exceed 400°C (752°F)—too hot for many semiconductor foundries' current tools.”
Anglicization of substratum.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.