SUBSTRUCTURE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does substructure mean? 

• SUBSTRUCTURE (noun)
  The noun SUBSTRUCTURE has 2 senses:

1. the basic structure or features of a system or organization

2. lowest support of a structure

  Familiarity information: SUBSTRUCTURE used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SUBSTRUCTURE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The basic structure or features of a system or organization

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

infrastructure; substructure

Hypernyms ("substructure" is a kind of...):

structure (the manner of construction of something and the arrangement of its parts)

Holonyms ("substructure" is a part of...):

system (instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Lowest support of a structure

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

base; foot; foundation; fundament; groundwork; substructure; understructure

Context example:

he stood at the foot of the tower

Hypernyms ("substructure" is a kind of...):

support (supporting structure that holds up or provides a foundation)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "substructure"):

bed (a foundation of earth or rock supporting a road or railroad track)

mat; raft; raft foundation (a foundation (usually on soft ground) consisting of an extended layer of reinforced concrete)

Holonyms ("substructure" is a part of...):

construction; structure (a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts)

 Context examples 

Examination of this shell in further detail also shows some evidence of thin, wispy gas clouds known as filamentary substructures.

(Ageing Star Blows Off Smoky Bubble, ESO)

All protein-linked GPI anchors share a common core structure, characterized by the substructure Man (a1-4) GlcN (a1-6) myo-inositol-1P-lipid.

(Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-Anchor Biosynthesis Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/KEGG)

A bulk material composed of discrete nano-substructures that are engineered, synthesized and characterized for a myriad of applications.

(Nanomaterial, NCI Thesaurus)