substrate
Base material beneath
A substrate is whatever lies beneath and supports something else.
In biology, it's the surface or material an organism lives on or attaches to: The fungus grows on a wood substrate.
In biochemistry, a substrate is the molecule an enzyme acts upon.
The word extends to any underlying layer or base: a substrate of gravel beneath the soil, the cultural substrate underlying modern attitudes.
Ground matter for planting
- humusDecayed organic soil matter
- detritusLoose waste from decay
- decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
- microbesMicroscopic living organisms
organic · nutrients · leaf litter · sediment · benthos · biofilm · decay · mineralization
Accelerating reactions without consumption
- active siteEnzyme region binding substrates
- bindingLegally or morally required
- specificityExactness of detail
- turnoverSales volume or attrition
affinity · kinase · protease · lipase · amylase · polymerase · cofactor · inhibitor
Metalloid in electronics
- waferThin crisp disk
- semiconductorPartial electrical conductor
- chipSmall broken-off piece
- circuitClosed electrical pathway
etching · lithography · fabrication · layer · insulator · conductor · transistor · microchip
Underlying support structure
- concreteSolid building mixture
- bedrockSolid stone underground
- footingSecure ground position
- underpinningFoundational support beneath
groundwork · base · slab · gravel · compaction · subgrade · fill · load-bearing
Seed's initial growth phase
- seedlingRecently sprouted young plant
- hydroponicsPlant cultivation in nutrient water
- cultivationFostering growth through care
- rootingActively cheering someone on
propagation · perlite · vermiculite · peat · sphagnum · rockwool · aeration · drainage
soil
Ground matter for planting
- humusDecayed organic soil matter
- detritusLoose waste from decay
- decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
microbes · organic · nutrients · leaf litter · sediment · benthos · biofilm · decay · mineralization · carbon
catalysis
Accelerating reactions without consumption
- active siteEnzyme region binding substrates
- bindingLegally or morally required
- specificityExactness of detail
turnover · affinity · kinase · protease · lipase · amylase · polymerase · cofactor · inhibitor · product
silicon
Metalloid in electronics
- waferThin crisp disk
- semiconductorPartial electrical conductor
- chipSmall broken-off piece
circuit · etching · lithography · fabrication · layer · insulator · conductor · transistor · microchip · dielectric
foundation
Underlying support structure
underpinning · groundwork · base · slab · gravel · compaction · subgrade · fill · load-bearing · reinforcement
germination
Seed's initial growth phase
- seedlingRecently sprouted young plant
- hydroponicsPlant cultivation in nutrient water
- cultivationFostering growth through care
rooting · propagation · perlite · vermiculite · peat · sphagnum · rockwool · aeration · drainage · moisture
coating
Applied surface covering
laminate · veneer · film · paint · plating · finishing · texture · preparation · treatment · sealant
- semiconductorssilicon, semiconductor, semiconductors, silicon wafers, transistor
- Proteostasisdeubiquitinase, protease, degradation, parkin, CHOP
- Aquarium Decordriftwood, rocks, caves, plants, shells
- fundamentalsbasics, fundamentals, essentials, foundation, ABCs
- layerscanopy layer, paper sheets, veneer, laminate, cloud layer
- surfacessurface, sphere, cone, torus, plane
substrateoverlay
Covering placed atop
overlayer · surface layer · top layer · coating · overburden
substratesuperstructure
Construction above the base
coating · cladding · finish coat · top coat · laminate
- substrate languageUnderlying displaced linguistic influence