strata
|stra-ta|
🇺🇸
/ˈstræ.tə/; /ˈstreɪ.tə/
🇬🇧
/ˈstrɑː.tə/; /ˈstreɪ.tə/
(stratum)
layer or level
Etymology
'strata' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'stratum', where the past participle 'stratum' (from 'sternere') meant 'something spread out'.
'stratum' passed into English via Scientific/Modern Latin as 'stratum' (plural 'strata') and was adopted in English with the same form; the plural 'strata' has been used in English since the 17th century.
Initially it meant 'something spread out' (a spreading), but over time it evolved into the specialized senses 'a layer (of earth/rock)' and figuratively 'a level or class'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural of 'stratum': a layer of rock, soil, or other material lying one on top of another.
Geologists examined the rock strata to understand the area's history.
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Noun 2
a level or class within a system or society (e.g., social, economic, organizational levels).
Public policy must address inequalities between different social strata.
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Noun 3
any set of layers or levels arranged one above another (used in a general or metaphorical sense).
The report analyzes the strata of decision-making within the company.
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Last updated: 2025/12/03 05:19