stratum
stratum Lexical Profile
stratum Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A horizontal layer or bed of sedimentary rock, soil, or other material having internally consistent characteristics that distinguish it from contiguous layers.
"Geologists discovered well-preserved marine fossils embedded within a deep limestone stratum."
A level or class to which people are assigned according to their social status, education, or income.
"The economic reform was designed to benefit families in the lowest socioeconomic stratum of society."
A thin sheet or layer of organic tissue or cells, such as those forming the epidermis or retina.
"The outermost stratum of the human epidermis acts as a protective barrier against dehydration and environmental pathogens."
Word Nuance & Usage
'Stratum' is the singular form, while 'strata' is the standard plural. Although 'strata' is occasionally misused as a singular noun in casual speech, formal and academic writing strictly requires 'a stratum' for one layer and 'strata' for multiple layers.
• Rhymes for stratum
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 16th century from Modern Latin 'stratum', literally meaning 'something spread or laid down', from the neuter past participle of the Latin verb 'sternere' ('to spread out, strew, or pave').