platinum

[plat-n-uhm, plat-nuhm]

noun

1. Chemistry.,  a heavy, grayish-white, highly malleable and ductile metallic element, resistant to most chemicals, practically unoxidizable except in the presence of bases, and fusible only at extremely high temperatures: used for making chemical and scientific apparatus, as a catalyst in the oxidation of ammonia to nitric acid, and in jewelry. Pt; 195.09; 78; 21.5 at 20°C.

2. a light, metallic gray with very slight bluish tinge when compared with silver.

adjective

1. made of platinum.

2. (of an audio recording) having sold a minimum of one million copies.

platinum

/ ˈplætɪnəm /

noun

1. a ductile malleable silvery-white metallic element, very resistant to heat and chemicals. It occurs free and in association with other platinum metals, esp in osmiridium: used in jewellery, laboratory apparatus, electrical contacts, dentistry, electroplating, and as a catalyst. Symbol: Pt; atomic no: 78; atomic wt: 195.08; valency: 1–4; relative density: 21.45; melting pt: 1769°C; boiling pt: 3827±100°C

2. 1. a medium to light grey colour

   2. ( as adjective )

      a platinum carpet

platinum

1. A soft, ductile, malleable, silver-white metallic element that usually occurs with osmium, iridium, palladium, or nickel. It has a high melting point and does not corrode in air. Platinum is used as a catalyst and in making jewelry, electrical contacts, and dental crowns. Atomic number 78; atomic weight 195.08; melting point 1,772°C; boiling point 3,827°C; specific gravity 21.45; valence 2, 3, 4.

2. See Periodic Table

Word History and Origins

Origin of platinum¹

1805–15; < New Latin, alteration of earlier platina < Spanish; platina

Word History and Origins

Origin of platinum¹

C19: New Latin, from _platina , on the model of other metals with the suffix -um

Example Sentences

Gold futures settled Wednesday at a record $4,043.30 a troy ounce, the special unit of weight used for precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum that dates to medieval trade markets.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Gold breached $4,000 an ounce this week and silver neared a record high, while platinum is up roughly 80% so far this year.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Given the sheer scale of government debt, even small shifts in investors’ allocations from bond markets can have outsize price impacts on assets such as gold, silver or platinum.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

One sign of investors’ nerves: Gold also keeps hitting records, while silver and platinum futures have notched their longest weekly winning streaks in years.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Most other major metals, besides platinum, can’t beat silver’s gain this year.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• gold 
• iron 
• metal 
• mineral