substructure
nounUK /ˈsʌbˌstrʌk.tʃər/
US /ˈsʌbˌstrʌk.tʃɚ/
A substructure is the strong bottom part that holds up a building or bridge.
The workers poured concrete for the substructure before building the bridge.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A hidden part of a system or organization that supports the rest.
The company's substructure includes many small departments working behind the scenes.
3. In grammar, a basic part of a word that other parts are added to.
The substructure of 'unhappiness' is the word 'happy'.
4. The lower layers of a road or railway that support the surface.
Engineers checked the substructure of the track before the trains returned.