/peuh lay"dee euhm/ , n. Chem.
a rare metallic element of the platinum group, silver-white, ductile and malleable, harder and fusing more readily than platinum: used chiefly as a catalyst and in dental and other alloys. Symbol: Pd; at. wt.: 106.4; at. no.: 46; sp. gr.: 12 at 20°C.
[ special use of PALLADIUM; named (1803) after the asteroid PALLAS, then newly discovered; see -IUM ]