substrate

[ suhb-streyt ]

noun

1. a substratum.
2. Biochemistry. the substance acted upon by an enzyme.
3. Electronics. a supporting material on which a circuit is formed or fabricated.

substrate

/ ˈsʌbstreɪt /

noun

1. biochem the substance upon which an enzyme acts
2. another word for substratum
3. electronics the semiconductor base on which other material is deposited, esp in the construction of integrated circuits

substrate

/ sŭb′strāt′ /

1. The material or substance on which an enzyme acts.
2. See more at enzyme
3. The surface on or in which plants, algae, or certain animals, such as barnacles or clams, live or grow. A substrate may serve as a source of food for an organism or simply provide support.

Word History and Origins

Origin of substrate¹

First recorded in 1570–80; variant of substratum

Example Sentences

The oscillators used in the study consist of thin strips of superconducting material patterned on an insulating substrate to form microwave resonators, a technology fully compatible with the most advanced superconducting quantum computers.

From Science Daily

Optical analysis and machine learning techniques can now readily detect microplastics in marine and freshwater environments using inexpensive porous metal substrates.

From Science Daily

The nanoparticles embedded in the substrate served to counteract these disruptions, with a key design element being the intentional pattern of their distribution.

From Science Daily

Ado is originally an oxidase enzyme that adds an oxygen atom to the substrate -- isoeugenol.

From Science Daily

Nearby the pellet was a carefully selected substrate, onto which the hydrogen and metals spontaneously combined to form the desired perovskite.

From Science Daily