palladium: Meaning and Definition of

pal•la•di•um

1. 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; at. wt.: 106.4; at. no.: 46; sp. gr.: 12 at 20°C.

Pal•la•di•um

1. a statue of Athena, esp. one on the citadel of Troy on which the safety of the city was supposed to depend.
2. (usually l.c.) anything believed to provide protection or safety; safeguard.