Etymology : Middle French plate-forme diagram, map, literally, flat form
Pronunciation : plat-"form
Function : noun
Date : 1535
1. platform. podium. tribune.
2. raised area in a train station from which passengers board the train; basic principles of a political party; podium, pulpit; flat surface that is raised above the surrounding area. platform\plat"form`\, v. t.
3. to place on a platform. [r.].
4. to form a plan of; to model; to lay out. [obs.] church discipline is platformed in the bible.platform \plat"form`\ , n. [plat, a. + -form: cf. f. plateforme.].
5. a plat; a plan; a sketch; a model; a pattern. used also figuratively. [obs.].
6. a place laid out after a model. [obs.] lf the platform just reflects the order.
7. any flat or horizontal surface; especially, one that is raised above some particular level, as a framework of timber or boards horizontally joined so as to form a roof, or a raised floor, or portion of a floor; a landing; a dais; a stage, for speakers, performers, or workmen; a standing place.
8. a declaration of the principles upon which a person, a sect, or a party proposes to stand; a declared policy or system; as, the saybrook platform; a political platform. "the platform of geneva.".
9. (naut.) a light deck, usually placed in a section of the hold or over the floor of the magazine. see:
orlop.platform car, a railway car without permanent raised sides or covering; a f at.platform scale, a weighing machine, with a flat platform on which objects are weighed.platform n.
10. a raised horizontal surface; "the speaker mounted the platform".
11. a document stating the aims and principles of a political party; "their candidate simply ignored the party platform"; "they won the election even though they offered no positive program" [syn: political platform, political program , program].
12. the combination of a particular computer and a particular operating system.
13. any military structure or vehicle bearing weapons [syn: weapons platform ].
14. a woman's shoe with a very high thick sole [syn: chopine, chopines, platforms].
15. rostrum.
16. A plat; a plan; a sketch; a model; a pattern.
17. Used also figuratively.
18. A place laid out after a model.
19. Any flat or horizontal surface; especially, one that is raised above some particular level, as a framework of timber or boards horizontally joined so as to form a roof, or a raised floor, or portion of a floor; a landing; a dais; a stage, for speakers, performers, or workmen; a standing place.
20. A declaration of the principles upon which a person, a sect, or a party proposes to stand; a declared policy or system; as, the Saybrook platform; a political platform.
21. A light deck, usually placed in a section of the hold or over the floor of the magazine.
22. See Orlop.
23. To place on a platform.
24. To form a plan of; to model; to lay out. a raised horizontal surface; "the speaker mounted the platform" any military structure or vehicle bearing weapons the combination of a particular computer and a particular operating system a document stating the aims and principles of a political party; "their candidate simply ignored the party platform"; "they won the election even though they offered no positive program".
25. platform, podium, tribune. platform, rostrum.
26. platform, rostrum.
27. platform, declaration of principles and policies.
28. geog. platform.
29. platform. rostrum. dais.
30. 1. A platform is a flat, raised structure, usually made of wood, which people stand on when they make speeches or give a performance. Nick finished what he was saying and jumped down from the platform.
31. A platform is a flat raised structure or area, usually one which something can stand on or land on. They found a spot on a rocky platform where they could pitch their tents.
32. A platform is a structure built for people to work and live on when drilling for oil or gas at sea, or when extracting it.
33. A platform in a railway station is the area beside the rails where you wait for or get off a train. The train was about to leave and I was not even on the platform.
34. The platform of a political party is what they say they will do if they are elected. a platform of political and economic reforms = programme.
35. If someone has a platform, they have an opportunity to tell people what they think or want. The demonstration provided a platform for a broad cross section of speakers. Columbus Platform Pittsburgh Platform platform tennis wave cut platform abrasion platform.