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# substrate

noun (a substrate, substrates)

«substrate» in the English dictionary: everyday and Meaning — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (science) A substrate is the surface or material that something grows on or lives on, such as soil, sand, rock or a fish tank's gravel. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/substrate/#m1)
2. (science) In chemistry and biology, a substrate is the substance that an enzyme acts on and changes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/substrate/#m2)
3. (technology) A substrate is a base layer that something else is built on, like the material under a computer chip. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/substrate/#m3)

### In the lessons

In science lessons about habitats, the substrate of a rock pool, stream or aquarium is what lives on the bottom. In biology, «enzymes break down substrates». In pet care, reptile and fish owners choose a safe substrate for the tank. Phrases: «on the substrate», «enzyme and substrate».

### Examples

- The stream's substrate was gravel and pebbles. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/substrate/#x1)
- Mussels attach themselves to a rocky substrate. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/substrate/#x2)
- We put sand as the substrate in the fish tank. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/substrate/#x3)
- Mushrooms grow on a substrate of wood or straw. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/substrate/#x4)
- Each enzyme works on its own substrate. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/substrate/#x5)
- The gecko's tank needs a safe substrate. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/substrate/#x6)

### Note

Countable, science word. «Sub-» means «under»: the layer underneath. Not used in everyday chat.

## Meaning

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «substrate» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/substrate/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«substrate» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/substrate.html) on Mova free.