Platinum-iridium
standard
A standard, against which all others of the same category are measured. Usage: silly.
The notion is that one of whatever it is has actually been cast in platinum-iridium alloy and placed in the vault beside the Standard Kilogram at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures near Paris, as the bar defining the standard metre once was.
“This garbage collection algorithm has been tested against the platinum-iridium cons cell in Paris.”
Compare golden.
[Jargon File]
(1997-02-20)
Read Also:
- Platinum metal
noun 1. any of the group of precious metallic elements consisting of ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, and platinum
- Platitude
[plat-i-tood, -tyood] /ˈplæt ɪˌtud, -ˌtyud/ noun 1. a flat, dull, or trite remark, especially one uttered as if it were fresh or profound. 2. the quality or state of being flat, dull, or trite: the platitude of most political oratory. /ˈplætɪˌtjuːd/ noun 1. a trite, dull, or obvious remark or statement; a commonplace 2. staleness […]
- Platitudinarian
[plat-i-tood-n-air-ee-uh n, -tyood-] /ˌplæt ɪˌtud nˈɛər i ən, -ˌtyud-/ noun 1. a person who frequently or habitually utters platitudes.
- Platitudinize
[plat-i-tood-n-ahyz, -tyood-] /ˌplæt ɪˈtud n aɪz, -ˈtyud-/ verb (used without object), platitudinized, platitudinizing. 1. to utter . /ˌplætɪˈtjuːdɪˌnaɪz/ verb 1. (intransitive) to speak or write in platitudes
- Platitudinous
[plat-i-tood-n-uh s, -tyood-] /ˌplæt ɪˈtud n əs, -ˈtyud-/ adjective 1. characterized by or given to . 2. of the nature of or resembling a .