substratum

Noun

1. a surface on which an organism grows or is attached; “the gardener talked about the proper substrate for acid-loving plants”
   • Synonyms
     • substrate
   • Less specific
     • surface
2. any stratum or layer lying underneath another
   • Synonyms
     • substrate
   • Less specific
     • stratum
3. an indigenous language that contributes features to the language of an invading people who impose their language on the indigenous population; “the Celtic languages of Britain are a substrate for English”
   • Synonyms
     • substrate
   • Less specific
     • indigenous language