Main Entry: ¹plat·i·num

Pronunciation: \ˈplat-nəm, ˈpla-tə-nəm\

Function: noun

Usage: often attributive

Etymology: New Latin, from Spanish platina, from diminutive of plata silver — more at plate

Date: 1808

1 : a precious grayish-white noncorroding ductile malleable heavy metallic element that fuses with difficulty and is used especially in chemical ware and apparatus, as a catalyst, and in dental and jewelry alloys — see element table
2 : a moderate gray