platinum

platinum
platinum metallic element, Modern Latin, from Sp. platina "platinum," dim. of plata "silver," from O.Fr. plate or O.Prov. plata "sheet of metal" (see PLATE (Cf. plate)). The metal looks like silver, and the Spaniards at first thought it an inferior sort of silver, hence the name platina. It was first obtained from Spanish colonies in Mexico and Colombia, brought to Europe in 1735, and identified as an element 1741. Taken into English as platina (c.1750), it took its modern form (with element ending -ium) in 1812, at the time the names of elements were being regularized. As a shade of blond hair, attested from 1931. As a designation for a recording that has sold at least one million copies, it is attested from 1971.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Platinum — Студийный альбом Майк Олдфилд …   Википедия

  • Platinum — Plat i*num, n. [NL., fr. Sp. platina, from plata silver, LL. plata a thin plate of metal. See {Plate}, and cf. {Platina}.] (Chem.) A metallic element of atomic number 78, one of the noble metals, classed with silver and gold as a precious metal,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • platinum — Symbol: Pt Atomic number: 78 Atomic weight: 195.078 Attractive greyish white metal. When pure, it is malleable and ductile. Does not oxidize in air, insoluble in hydrochloric and nitric acid. Corroded by halogens, cyandies, sulphur and alkalis.… …   Elements of periodic system

  • platinum — plat‧i‧num [ˈplætnəm] noun [uncountable] a silver grey metal used in manufacturing and traded on commodity market S: • a platinum mine • platinum jewellery * * * platinum UK US /ˈplætɪnəm/ US  /ˈplætənəm/ noun [U] …   Financial and business terms

  • Platinum — Platinum, AK U.S. city in Alaska Population (2000): 41 Housing Units (2000): 26 Land area (2000): 44.630629 sq. miles (115.592794 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.071778 sq. miles (0.185904 sq. km) Total area (2000): 44.702407 sq. miles (115.778698… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Platinum, AK — U.S. city in Alaska Population (2000): 41 Housing Units (2000): 26 Land area (2000): 44.630629 sq. miles (115.592794 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.071778 sq. miles (0.185904 sq. km) Total area (2000): 44.702407 sq. miles (115.778698 sq. km) FIPS… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • platinum — ☆ platinum [plat′ n əm] n. [ModL < Sp platina, dim. of plata, silver < Prov, metal plate, silver bar, silver < VL * plattus, flat: see PLATE] a silver colored, malleable, ductile, metallic chemical element that is highly resistant to… …   English World dictionary

  • platinum — ► NOUN 1) a precious silvery white metallic chemical element used in jewellery and in some electrical and laboratory apparatus. 2) (before another noun ) greyish white or silvery like platinum. ORIGIN Spanish platina, from plata silver …   English terms dictionary

  • Platinum — This article is about the chemical element. For other uses, see Platinum (disambiguation). iridium ← platinum → gold Pd ↑ Pt ↓ Ds …   Wikipedia

  • platinum — /plat n euhm, plat neuhm/, n. 1. Chem. 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:… …   Universalium

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