substructure

/ˈsʌbˌstrʌktʃər/
noun
  1. The underlying foundation or supporting part of a building, bridge, or other structure.
    • Before building the house, workers must complete the concrete substructure.
    • The ancient temple's substructure was made of massive stone blocks.
    • The substructure of the bridge includes the piers and abutments that hold it up.
  2. The basic, often hidden, system or set of ideas that supports something more complex.
    • We need to understand the substructure of the argument before we can debate it.
    • The economic substructure of a society influences its laws and culture.
    • The company's success rests on a solid substructure of efficient logistics.
What does "substructure" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean