substrate

/ˌsʌbˈstreɪt/

Other forms: substrates

A substrate is the base layer of something, or a layer that's underneath another layer. It can also be a surface on which an organism grows or is attached.

Substrate also has a linguistic meaning: It's an indigenous language that contributes words or parts of speech to the language of an invading people who have imposed their language on the indigenous people. Throughout the United States, for instance, there are towns with Native American names, because Native American languages form a substrate to American English.

Definitions of substrate

1. noun

   the substance that is acted upon by an enzyme or ferment
   type of:

   substance

   the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists
2. noun

   a surface on which an organism grows or is attached
   “the gardener talked about the proper substrate for acid-loving plants”

   synonyms: substratum

   type of:

   surface

   the extended two-dimensional outer boundary of a three-dimensional object
3. noun

   any stratum or layer lying underneath another
   synonyms: substratum

   type of:

   stratum

   one of several parallel layers of material arranged one on top of another (such as a layer of tissue or cells in an organism or a layer of sedimentary rock)
4. noun

   an indigenous language that contributes features to the language of an invading people who impose their language on the indigenous population
   “the Celtic languages of Britain are a substrate for English”

   synonyms: substratum

   type of:

   indigenous language

   a language that originated in a specified place and was not brought to that place from elsewhere