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platinum

Syllabification: (plat·i·num)
Pronunciation: /ˈplatn-əm/
Translate platinum | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of platinum

noun

  • a precious silvery-white metal, the chemical element of atomic number 78. It was first encountered by the Spanish in South America in the 16th century and is used in jewelry, electrical contacts, laboratory equipment, and industrial catalysts. (Symbol: Pt)
  • [often as modifier] the grayish-white or silvery color of platinum:a platinum wig

Phrases

go platinum

(of a recording) achieve sales meriting a platinum disk.

Origin:

early 19th century: alteration of earlier platina, from Spanish, diminutive of plata 'silver'

platinum in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of platinum in the British & World English dictionary

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