substrate

• Substance ou surface qui se trouve en dessous ou sert de base à un processus, un organisme ou une couche, incluant le matériau sur lequel agit une enzyme, la surface de croissance pour les cultures, une couche sous-jacente en géologie ou en biologie, ou encore une strate linguistique qui influence une langue dominante.

A noun referring to a substance or surface that underlies or serves as a foundation for a process, organism, or layer, including the material acted upon by an enzyme, a surface for growth, an underlying stratum, or a linguistic layer influencing an invading language.

1. Enzyme substrateC1formalscientific

   The specific substance upon which an enzyme acts in a biochemical reaction.

   Substrat enzymatique

   • The enzyme binds to its substrate to catalyze the reaction.
   • Lactose is the substrate for the enzyme lactase.
   • The concentration of the substrate affects the rate of the reaction.

   Synonymesreactantsubstance

2. Growth surfaceB2formalscientific

   A surface or material on which an organism, such as a plant, fungus, or microbe, grows or is attached.

   Substrat (surface de croissance)

   • The moss grows on a rocky substrate.
   • Agar is used as a substrate for bacterial cultures.
   • The coral attaches itself to a hard substrate on the ocean floor.

   Synonymesbasematrixmediumsubstratumsupport

3. Underlying layerC1formal

   A stratum or layer that lies underneath another, often in geology or materials science.

   Substrat

   • The geologist studied the substrate beneath the topsoil.
   • The paint was applied over a prepared substrate.
   • The substrate of the road must be stable to support the asphalt.

   Synonymesbasebasementbedbedrockfloorfoundationsubstratum

   Antonymesoverlayersuperstrate

4. Linguistic substrateC2formal

   An indigenous language that influences the language of an invading or dominant population, often leaving traces in vocabulary or grammar.

   Substrat linguistique

   • The Celtic languages acted as a substrate for English in some regions.
   • Linguists study the substrate effects in creole languages.
   • The substrate language contributed several place names to the dominant language.

   Synonymessubstratum