plat·form / ˈplatfôrm/ • n. 1. a raised level surface on which people or things can stand: there are viewing platforms where visitors may gape at the chasm. ∎  a raised floor or stage used by public speakers or performers so that they can be seen by their audience: earning her living on the concert platform. ∎  a raised structure along the side of a railroad track where passengers get on and off trains at a station. ∎  a raised structure standing in the sea from which oil or gas wells can be drilled or regulated. ∎  a raised structure or orbiting satellite from which rockets or missiles may be launched. ∎  Comput. a standard for the hardware of a computer system, determining what kinds of software it can run.2. [usu. in sing.] the declared policy of a political party or group: seeking election on a platform of low taxes. ∎  an opportunity to voice one's views or initiate action: the forum will provide a platform for discussion of communication issues.3. (platforms) shoes with very thick soles: chunky platforms | [as adj.] yellow platform shoes.

platform †plane figure or surface; †plan of action, design; †site of a building, etc.; level place for mounting guns XVI; raised level floor of planks, etc. XVIII (spec. raised flooring in a hall from which speeches are delivered, whence, orig. U.S., basis of political or other policy XIX). — F. plateforme plan, f. plate, fem. of plat flat (see PLATE) + forme FORM.

platform A computer system whose hardware and software make it sufficiently different from all other computers for it to be necessary to generate unique software versions for it. For instance, the Apple Macintosh, PC-compatibles, and Sun SPARC-Stations are all different platforms. Compare platform independence.

platform See SHELF.

platform See shelf.