n. Chem. a ductile malleable silvery-white metallic element occurring naturally in nickel and copper ores, unaffected by simple acids and fusible only at a very high temperature, used in making jewellery and laboratory apparatus.
Usage:
Symb.: Pt.
Phrases and idioms:
platinum black platinum in powder form like lampblack. platinum blonde (or blond) adj. silvery-blond.
--n. a person with silvery-blond hair. platinum metal any metallic element found with and resembling platinum e.g. osmium, iridium, and palladium.
Etymology: mod.L f. earlier platina f. Sp., dimin. of plata silver