Meaning & use

substrate

noun·Advanced

Last updated

The surface or material on which an organism lives, grows, or is attached, or the substance on which an enzyme acts.

See it in a sentence

Moss can grow on almost any damp substrate, including rock and bark.

The enzyme breaks down its substrate into simpler molecules.

A note on using this word

A term used across biology, chemistry, and materials science, always referring to an underlying surface or material.

Words with a similar meaning

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