palladium

[ puh-ley-dee-uh m ]
/ pəˈleɪ di əm /

noun Chemistry.

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. Symbol: Pd; atomic weight: 106.4; atomic number: 46; specific gravity: 12 at 20°C.

Origin of palladium

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

Definition for palladium (2 of 2)

Palladium
[ puh-ley-dee-uh m ]
/ pəˈleɪ di əm /

noun, plural Pal·la·di·a [puh-ley-dee-uh] /pəˈleɪ di ə/.

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

Origin of Palladium

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

Example sentences from the Web for palladium

British Dictionary definitions for palladium (1 of 3)

palladium 1
/ (pəˈleɪdɪəm) /

noun

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

Word Origin for palladium

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

British Dictionary definitions for palladium (2 of 3)

palladium 2
/ (pəˈleɪdɪəm) /

noun

something believed to ensure protection; safeguard

Word Origin for palladium

C17: after the Palladium

British Dictionary definitions for palladium (3 of 3)

Palladium
/ (pəˈleɪdɪəm) /

noun

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

Medical definitions for palladium

palladium
[ pə-lādē-əm ]

n. Symbol Pd

A soft ductile metallic element occurring naturally with platinum, especially in gold, nickel, and copper ores, and used as a catalyst in hydrogenation and in dentistry. Atomic number 46.

Scientific definitions for palladium

palladium
[ pə-lādē-əm ]

Pd

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. See Periodic Table.