platinum

/ˈplæɾɪnəm/

/ˈplætɪnəm/

Other forms: platinums

Platinum is a chemical element that's a heavy, precious metal. If you want a really fancy wedding band, go for platinum.

Have you ever heard of a musician's album going platinum? In the U.S., that means it sold a million copies, and platinum is the precious metal used to symbolize such success. Platinum is one of the periodic table of elements, and it's often found in copper and nickel ores. Platinum won't corrode, and its color is somewhere between grey and white. Another use of this term is when someone dyes their hair so blonde it’s almost white: that’s platinum blonde.

Definitions of platinum

1. noun

   a heavy precious metallic element; grey-white and resistant to corroding; occurs in some nickel and copper ores and is also found native in some deposits
   synonyms: Pt, atomic number 78

   type of:

   noble metal

   any metal that is resistant to corrosion or oxidation