stratum

stratum
noun (plural strata) Etymology: New Latin, from Latin, spread, bed, from neuter of stratus, past participle of sternere to spread out — more at strew Date: 1599 1. a bed or layer artificially made 2. a. a sheetlike mass of sedimentary rock or earth of one kind lying between beds of other kinds b. a region of the sea or atmosphere that is analogous to a stratum of the earth c. a layer of tissue <
deep stratum of the skin
>
d. a layer in which archaeological material (as artifacts, skeletons, and dwelling remains) is found on excavation 3. a. a part of a historical or sociological series representing a period or a stage of development b. a socioeconomic level of society comprising persons of the same or similar status especially with regard to education or culture 4. one of a series of layers, levels, or gradations in an ordered system <
strata of thought
>
5. a statistical subpopulation Usage: The plural strata has occasionally been used as a singular since the 18th century and is sometimes given the plural stratas <
there was a strata of Paris which mere criticism of books fails to get hold of — Ezra Pound
>
<
a Roman burial ground suggests stratas of corruption and decay — Connie Fletcher, Booklist
>
. Current evidence shows senses 2, 3b, and 4 so used, with 3b the most common. Singular strata is persistent but not frequent. Strata may someday establish itself as a singular like agenda, but that use is still not established.

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • stratum — [ stratɔm ] n. m. • XVIIIe chim.; mot lat. ♦ Histol. Couche. ● stratum nom masculin (latin stratum, couche) Stratum granulosum et stratum lucidum, couches de cellules de l épiderme, entre le réseau muqueux de Malpighi et la couche cornée de l… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Stratum — (n., Pl. Strata, eingedeutscht auch Straten, lat. „Schicht“, „Decke“) bedeutet: in der Archäologie eine bestimmte Schicht der Ausgrabung, siehe Stratum (Archäologie) in der Geologie die kleinste Gesteinseinheit, die sich von anderen Einheiten… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • stratum — (n.) horizontal layer, 1590s, from Mod.L. stratum, special use of L. stratum thing spread out, coverlet, pavement, from neuter pp. of sternere to spread out, lay down, stretch out, from PIE *stre to to stretch, extend, from root *stere to spread …   Etymology dictionary

  • stratum — stratum; sub·stratum; su·per·stratum; …   English syllables

  • Stratum — Stra tum, n.; pl. E. {Stratums}, L. {Strata}. The latter is more common. [L., from sternere, stratum, to spread; akin to Gr. ? to spread, strew. See {Strew}, and cf. {Consternation}, {Estrade}, {Prostrate}, {Stratus}, {Street}.] 1. (Geol.) A bed… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • stratum — strȃtum m DEFINICIJA 1. anat. sloj stanica ili tkiva na različitim anatomskim lokalizacijama 2. geol. arheol. u geologiji i arheologiji, sloj, naslaga ETIMOLOGIJA lat. stratum: pokrivač …   Hrvatski jezični portal

  • stratum — ► NOUN (pl. strata) 1) a layer or a series of layers of rock. 2) a thin layer within any structure. 3) a level or class of society. DERIVATIVES stratal adjective. USAGE It is incorrect to use strata …   English terms dictionary

  • stratum — [strāt′əm, strat′əm] n. pl. strata [strātə, strat′ə] or stratums [ModL < L, a covering, blanket < stratus, pp. of sternere, to spread, stretch out, cover: for IE base see STREW] 1. a horizontal layer or section of material, esp. any of… …   English World dictionary

  • Stratum — (lat.), 1) überhaupt Schicht; 2) bes. Häute, od. hautartige Gebilde, welche schichtenweise übereinander liegen, s. Strata. Daher S. cellulōsum, eine außen auf der Rinde liegende, bei starker Entwickelung den Kork bildende Lage von Zellengewebe; S …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Stratum — (lat.), Schicht; s. Strata …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Stratum — Stratum, Mehrzahl strata. lat., Schichte, Lager; stratificiren, schichten; Stratification, die Schichtung der Gebirgsarten …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

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