substrate

A substrate is a solid substance or medium to which another substance is applied and to which that second substance adheres. In computing and electronics, the term refers to a slice of semiconductor material such as silicon , metal oxide or gallium arsenide ( GaAs ) that serves as the foundation for the construction of components such as transistor s and integrated circuits ( IC s). In the manufacture of an IC, the substrate material is cut or formed into thin discs called wafers, on which the individual electronic components are etched, deposited or fabricated.

In offset printing , the term substrate refers to the material onto which the print ink is ultimately applied, such as paper, canvas or cloth.