palladium

¹

[ puh-ley-dee-uhm ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. 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. : Pd; : 106.4; : 46; : 12 at 20°C.

Palladium

²

[ puh-ley-dee-uhm ]

noun

, plural Pal·la·di·a [p, uh, -, ley, -dee-, uh].

1. Also Pal·la·di·on [] a statue of Athena, especially one on the citadel of Troy on which the safety of the city was supposed to depend.
2. (usually lowercase) anything believed to provide protection or safety; safeguard.

palladium

¹

/ pəˈleɪdɪəm /

noun

1. something believed to ensure protection; safeguard

palladium

²

/ pəˈleɪdɪəm /

noun

1. a ductile malleable silvery-white element of the platinum metal group occurring principally in nickel-bearing ores: used as a hydrogenation catalyst and, alloyed with gold, in jewellery. Symbol: Pd; atomic no: 46; atomic wt: 106.42; valency: 2, 3, or 4; relative density: 1202; melting pt: 1555°C; boiling pt: 2964°C

Palladium

³

/ pəˈleɪdɪəm /

noun

1. a statue of Pallas Athena, esp the one upon which the safety of Troy depended

palladium

/ pə-lā′dē-əm /

1. A malleable, ductile, grayish-white metallic element that occurs naturally with platinum. It is used as a catalyst in hydrogenation and in alloys for making electrical contacts and jewelry. Atomic number 46; atomic weight 106.4; melting point 1,552°C; boiling point 3,140°C; specific gravity 12.02 (20°C); valence 2, 3, 4.
2. See Periodic Table

Word History and Origins

Origin of palladium¹

Special use of Palladium; named (1803) after the asteroid Pallas, then newly discovered; -ium

Origin of palladium²

< Latin Palladium < Greek Palládion, noun use of neuter of Palládios of Pallas, equivalent to Pallad- (stem of Pallás ) Pallas + -ios adj. suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of palladium¹

C17: after the Palladium

Origin of palladium²

C19: named after the asteroid Pallas , at the time (1803) a recent discovery

Example Sentences

It also boasts 40% of the world’s uranium enrichment capacity, 20% of class 1 nickel, 30% of global palladium, and so on.

From Time

The former is a significant producer of many key commodities—including nickel, palladium, and aluminum—required by auto manufacturers.

From Time

He recounts good times on birthdays at the Palladium and parties on New Year’s Eve, his favorite suits and hats.

From Time

The researchers behind it had previously tested it on old, chopped-up circuit boards to strip them of precious metals like palladium and gold and heavy metals like chromium and mercury before safely disposing them in agricultural soil.

From Popular-Science

The parts — sought after for the platinum, rhodium, palladium and other metals inside — can be sold for $150 to $200 per piece at junk yards, police say.

From Washington Post

Kurt and Courtney met the second time in May 1991 during an L7 concert at the Palladium in Los Angeles.

From The Daily Beast

He stormed legendary spots like Palladium and Tunnel, and turned them into strobe-lit dens of iniquity.

From The Daily Beast

The last point is brought within the scope of our inquiry because the Palladium is an androgyne order.

From Project Gutenberg

You have restored in their favour the Act of Navigation, that palladium of British commerce.

From Project Gutenberg

A little while ago, at the Palladium, there was a Moore and Burgess revival.

From Project Gutenberg

The keys in particular probably indicate that the recompense at one time took the shape of a palladium.

From Project Gutenberg

An ancient oracle declared that, so long as the Palladium remained within the walls, Troy could not be taken.

From Project Gutenberg