Standard Lemma guide

stratification

noun · 11 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: S T R AE2 T AH0 F IH0 K EY1 SH AH0 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The process leading to the formation or deposition of layers, especially of sedimentary rocks.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A layering of musical texture.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

The vertical layering of vegetation in a forest.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: biology, ecology, natural-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

Society's categorization of people into socioeconomic strata.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: human-sciences, sciences, social-science, sociology

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

The process of treating seeds to simulate natural conditions that the seeds must experience before germination can occur, often involving exposure to cold.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: agriculture, business, horticulture, lifestyle

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Narrower terms: cold treatment

6

noun

Meaning 6

A classification or arrangement of things into different categories or groups.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

the placing of seeds in damp sand or sawdust or peat moss in order to preserve them or promote germination

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: placement, location, locating, position, positioning, emplacement

8

noun

Meaning 8

the act or process or arranging persons into classes or social strata

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: categorization, categorisation, classification, compartmentalization, compartmentalisation, assortment

9

noun

Meaning 9

a layered configuration

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: shape, form, configuration, contour, conformation

10

noun

Meaning 10

forming or depositing in layers

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: geological process, geologic process

Narrower terms: foliation

11

noun

Meaning 11

the condition of being arranged in social strata or classes within a group

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: social stratification

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: condition

History

Etymology

From stratum + -ification.

Across languages

Translations

33 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Armenian: շերտավորում (šertavorum) — process leading to formation of layers
  • Bulgarian: наслояване (naslojavane) — process leading to formation of layers
  • Catalan: estratificació — process leading to formation of layers
  • Finnish: kerrostuminen — process leading to formation of layers
  • French: stratification — process leading to formation of layers
  • German: Schichtung — process leading to formation of layers
  • German: Schichtbildung — process leading to formation of layers
  • German: Schichtenbildung — process leading to formation of layers
  • German: Stratifizierung — process leading to formation of layers
  • German: Lagerung — process leading to formation of layers
  • German: Ablagerung — process leading to formation of layers
  • German: Bänderung — process leading to formation of layers
  • German: Aufschichtung — process leading to formation of layers
  • Greek: στρωμάτωση (stromátosi) — process leading to formation of layers
  • Greek: στρωματοποίηση (stromatopoíisi) — process leading to formation of layers
  • Italian: stratificazione — process leading to formation of layers
  • Persian: اشکوبش (oškubeš) — process leading to formation of layers
  • Portuguese: estratificação — process leading to formation of layers
  • Romanian: stratificație — process leading to formation of layers
  • Spanish: estratificación — process leading to formation of layers
  • Finnish: kerrostaminen — layering of musical textures
  • Finnish: kerrostuneisuus — vertical layering of vegetation
  • German: Stratifikation — vertical layering of vegetation
  • Korean: 층상구조 (cheungsanggujo) — vertical layering of vegetation
  • Chinese Mandarin: 階層 /阶层 (jiēcéng) — categorization of people
  • Finnish: kerrostuneisuus — categorization of people
  • German: Hierarchisierung — categorization of people
  • Greek: διαστρωμάτωση (diastromátosi) — categorization of people
  • Indonesian: stratifikasi — categorization of people
  • Norwegian: stratifisering — categorization of people
  • Portuguese: estratificação — categorization of people
  • Finnish: stratifikaatio — horticulture: simulation of natural conditions
  • Finnish: kylmäkäsittely — horticulture: simulation of natural conditions
Real reading context

stratification in complete knowledge articles