platform

[ plat-fawrm ]

noun

1. a horizontal surface, or structure with a horizontal surface, raised above the level of the surrounding area.
2. a raised flooring or other horizontal surface, such as a stage for use by public speakers, performers, etc., in a hall or meeting place.

   Synonyms: tenets, party line, manifesto, pulpit, rostrum, dais, stage

3. a place for public discussion; forum.
4. the raised area between or alongside the tracks of a railroad station, from which the cars of the train are entered.
5. the open entrance area, or the vestibule, at the end of a railroad passenger car.
6. a landing in a flight of stairs.
7. a public statement of the principles, objectives, and policy of a political party, especially as put forth by the representatives of the party in a convention to nominate candidates for an election:

   The platform contained the usual platitudes.

8. a body of principles on which a person or group takes a stand in appealing to the public; program; policy:

   The Fabians developed an all-embracing platform promising utopia.

9. a system of religious principles or doctrines.
10. a decklike construction on which the drill rig of an offshore oil or gas well is erected.
11. Digital Technology.
    1. hardware platform ( def ).
    2. software platform ( def ).
    3. gaming platform ( def ).
    4. application program ( def ); app ¹( def 1 ).
12. Also plat·form busi·ness mod·el. a business model that facilitates financial, social, collaborative, or other connections between large networks of producers and consumers, typically through digital technology infrastructure:

    Rather than providing a product or service to a consumer, as a producer would, the value contribution of a platform is the strength and scale of its network.

13. Building Trades. a relatively flat member or construction for distributing weight, as a wall plate, grillage, etc.
14. Military.
    1. solid ground on which artillery pieces are mounted.
    2. a metal stand or base attached to certain types of artillery pieces.
15. Nautical. flat ¹( def 42a ).
16. a flat, elevated piece of ground.
17. Geology. a vast area of undisturbed sedimentary rocks that, together with a shield, constitutes a craton.
18. 1. a thick insert of leather, cork, or other sturdy material between the uppers and the sole of a shoe, usually intended for stylish effect or to give added height.
    2. Also plat·form shoe. a shoe with such an insert.

platform

/ ˈplætfɔːm /

noun

1. a raised floor or other horizontal surface, such as a stage for speakers
2. a raised area at a railway station, from which passengers have access to the trains
3. See drilling platform production platform
4. the declared principles, aims, etc, of a political party, an organization, or an individual
5. a level raised area of ground
6. 1. the thick raised sole of some high-heeled shoes
   2. ( as modifier )

      platform shoes

7. a vehicle or level place on which weapons are mounted and fired
8. a specific type of computer hardware or computer operating system

platform

/ plăt′fôrm′ /

1. The basic technology of a computer system's hardware and software, defining how a computer is operated and determining what other kinds of software can be used. Additional software or hardware must be compatible with the platform.
2. The part of a continent's craton (the ancient, relatively undisturbed portion of a continental plate) that is covered by flat or nearly flat strata of sediment.

platform

¹

1. The combination of computer hardware and operating system that applications must be compatible with.

platform

²

1. A political party's or candidate's written statement of principles and plans. A platform is usually developed by a committee at the party convention during a presidential campaign.

Other Words From

• plat·form·less adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of platform¹

First recorded in 1540–50; earlier platte forme, from Middle French: literally, “flat form, plane figure”; plate ¹, form

Word History and Origins

Origin of platform¹

C16: from French plateforme, from plat flat + forme form, layout

Example Sentences

About 50km from Ping’e, developers have built what they say is the highest viewing platform, which overlooks Dashiwei, the second-deepest sinkhole in the world.

From BBC

On Friday, his 11th stand-up special, “The Skinny,” premieres on Hulu as part of the new brand rollout dubbed “Hulu Laughing Now,” featuring 12 new comedy specials per year on the streaming platform.

From Los Angeles Times

Singer Kate Nash says she thinks she will make more money from selling photos of her bottom on OnlyFans than she will from her concerts, after joining the platform because it's "a really difficult time for artists to tour".

From BBC

“But it gives us a platform to negotiate from. There is a hard but achievable path ahead in the final hours - and that is what we are focusing on.”

From BBC

“Journalism and a party that relies on buying ads to combat the lies doesn’t work,” said Trippi, who has started his own social media platform, Sez Us, in hopes of boosting a media ecosystem that elevates civility, credibility and truth-telling.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• manifesto
• plank
• policy
• principle
• program