stratum definition - Dictionary

Dictionary

stra·tum [ stráytəm, stráttəm ] (plural stra·ta [ stráytə, stráttə ] or stra·tums)

noun

Definition:

1. level within system: a layer or level within an ordered system

the various strata of meaning within the text

2. layer of society: a social class or level of society consisting of people of similar cultural, economic, or educational status

3. geology
Same as bedn (sense 12)

4. layer of atmosphere or sea: a layer of the atmosphere or the sea, regarded as lying between horizontal planes

5. layer of cells: a layer of living cells

[Late 16th century. Via modern Latin< Latin, "something thrown down" < past participle of sternere "lay or throw down"]

stra·tal adjective

Word Usage


	The plural of stratum is strata, reflecting the word's Latin history. A variant plural stratums exists but is relatively infrequent. People sometimes use the false plurals stratas and (after Latin) stratae, which treat strata as a singular, but these are incorrect: all strata [not stratas or stratae] of society.