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Matrix vs Substrate - What's the difference?

matrix | substrate |

In biology terms the difference between matrix and substrate

is that matrix is the medium in which bacteria are cultured while substrate is a surface on which an organism grows or to which it is attached.

As nouns the difference between matrix and substrate

is that matrix is the womb while substrate is what an enzyme acts upon.

As a verb substrate is

to strew or lay under.

As an adjective substrate is

having very slight furrows.

matrix

English

Noun

(en-noun)
  • The womb.
  • * 1646 , Sir Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica , III.17:
    • upon conception the inward orifice of the matrix exactly closeth, so that it commonly admitteth nothing after [...].
  • * 1969 , Vladimir Nabokov, Ada or Ardor , Penguin 2011, p. 296:
    • In very rare cases, when the matrix just goes on pegging away automatically, the doctor can take advantage of that and ease out the second brat who then can be considered to be, say, three minutes younger [...].
  • (biology) The material or tissue in which more specialized structures are embedded.
  • (biology) An extracellular matrix, the material or tissue between the cells of animals or plants.
  • (biology) Part of the mitochondrion.
  • (biology) The medium in which bacteria are cultured.
  • (mathematics) A rectangular arrangement of numbers or terms having various uses such as transforming coordinates in geometry, solving systems of linear equations in linear algebra and representing graphs in graph theory.
  • (computing) A two-dimensional array.
  • A table of data.
  • (geology) A geological matrix, the outer material of a rock consisting of larger grains embedded in a material consisting of smaller ones.
  • (archaeology and paleontology) The sediment surrounding and including the artifacts, features, and other materials at a site.
  • (analytical chemistry) The environment from which a given sample is taken.

    • Synonyms

    * (mathematics) array, table * (table of data) array, grid, spreadsheet, table * (computing) array

    Derived terms

    * dot matrix * extracellular matrix * geological matrix * matricial

    substrate

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (biochemistry) What an enzyme acts upon.
  • (biology) A surface on which an organism grows or to which it is attached.
    • The rock surface of a rockpool is the substrate for a sessile organism such as a limpet.
  • An underlying layer; a substratum.
  • (linguistics) A language that is replaced in a population by another language and that influences the language imposed on its speakers.
  • (plating) A metal which is plated with another metal which has different physical properties.
  • (construction) A surface to which a substance adheres.
  • The substance lining the bottom edge of an enclosure.
    • The substrate of an aquarium can affect the water's acidity.
    Stream substrate affects fish longevity.

    Verb

    (substrat)
  • (obsolete) To strew or lay under.
  • * Boyle
    • The melted glass being supported by the substrated sand.

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Having very slight furrows.

    • See also

    * ("substrate" on Wikipedia)