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Platform |
Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Wikipedia, Hutchinson | 0.02 sec. |
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platform A hardware and/or software architecture that serves as a foundation or base. The term originally dealt with only hardware, and it may still refer to only a CPU model or computer family. For example, the x86 PC is the world's largest hardware platform. IBM's iSeries (AS/400) and Sun's SPARC are also hardware platforms (see hardware platforms for a larger list). The terms "platform" and "environment" are used interchangeably. See environment.An Operating System Platform The term often refers to an operating system, and the hardware is generally implied. For example, when an application is said to "run on the Windows platform," it means that the program has been compiled into the x86 machine language and runs under Windows. It implies x86 because Windows runs mostly on x86 PCs. The Xbox "gaming platform" refers to the Xbox proprietary operating system, but different hardware depending on model (Xbox or Xbox 360). The same goes for the "Palm platform," which ran the Palm OS on Motorola 68000 chips and later on ARM chips. With Unix, the hardware may not be implied. The phrase "the program runs on the Unix platform" does not indicate which CPU family that particular program was compiled for. Unix programs run on almost every hardware platform, but they have to be compiled into the machine language of the hardware. See Unix. Software Only - A Two Way Street Operating systems are always "software platforms" because applications must interface with them. An application can also be a platform if it is a base for other programs. For example, Web browsers accept third-party plug-ins, which are small software components that add functionality. The browser becomes a platform to contain those components. A messaging or groupware platform is a base program that e-mail, calendaring and other client programs communicate with. Software platforms are always a two-way street; they provide the base functionality and communicate back and forth with other software. A single application that runs in isolation is not a platform. For example, a simple photo editor that does not accept third-party plug-ins cannot be called a platform. platform 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. the declared principles, aims, etc., of a political party, an organization, or an individual 4. a level raised area of ground 5. a specific type of computer hardware or computer operating system platform [′plat‚fȯrm] (computer science) The hardware system and the system software used by a computer program. (geology) Any level or almost level surface; a small plateau. A continental area covered by relatively flat or gently tilted, mainly sedimentary strata which overlay a basement of rocks consolidated during earlier deformations; platforms and shields together constitute cratons. (mining engineering) A wooden floor on the side of a gangway at the bottom of an inclined seam, to which the coal runs by gravity, and from which it is shoveled into mine cars. (ordnance) Temporary or permanent solid bed on which artillery pieces are supported to give greater stability. Metal stand at the base of some types of guns upon which the gun crew stands while serving the gun. platform 1. A raised floor or terrace, open or roofed. 2. A stair landing; also See stair platform. 3. A grillage.
Platform in geology, a segment of the earth’s crust, within a central continental craton, in which the folded base is relatively submerged and covered by 1- to 16-km strata of horizontally bedded or gently tilted sedimentary rocks. The platform is contrasted to the relatively uplifted structure of the central continental craton “known as the shield and is composed of diverse structures of lesser orders, such as anteclises, syneclises, and domes. The term was proposed by E. Suess in 1885. How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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