platform

n 1: a raised horizontal surface; "the speaker mounted the

platform"

2: a document stating the aims and principles of a political

party; "their candidate simply ignored the party

platform"; "they won the election even though they offered

no positive program" [syn: {political platform}, {political

program}, {program}]

3: any military structure or vehicle bearing weapons [syn: {weapons

platform}]

4: a woman's shoe with a very high thick sole [syn: {chopine},

{chopines}, {platforms}]

platform

Specific computer hardware, as in the phrase

"platform-independent". It may also refer to a specific

combination of hardware and {operating system} and/or

{compiler}, as in "this program has been ported to several

platforms". It is also used to refer to support software for

a particular activity, as in "This program provides a platform

for research into routing protocols".

(1994-12-07)