Platform

 Platform (pronounced plat-fawrm)

(1) A horizontal surface or structure raised above the surrounding area.

(2) The raised area between or alongside the tracks of a railroad station, from which the cars of the train are entered.

(3) The open entrance area, or vestibule, at the end of a railroad passenger car.

(4) A landing in a flight of stairs.

(5) A public statement of the principles, objectives, and policy of a political party, especially as put forth by the representatives of the party in a convention to nominate candidates for an election; a body of principles on which a person or group takes a stand in appealing to the public; program; a set of principles; plan.

(6) A place for public discussion; forum.

(7) A deck-like construction on which the drill rig of an offshore oil or gas well is erected.

(8) In building, a relatively flat member or construction for distributing weight, as a wall plate, grillage, etc.

(9) In military jargon, solid ground on which artillery pieces are mounted or a metal stand or base attached to certain types of artillery pieces.

(10) In geology, a vast area of undisturbed sedimentary rocks which, together with a shield, constitutes a craton.

(11) In footwear design, a thick insert of leather, cork, or other sturdy material between the uppers and the sole of a shoe, usually intended for stylish effect or to give added height.

(12) In computing, a standardised hardware or software system.

(13) In manufacturing, a standardised design which permits variations to be produced without structural change to the base. 

1540–1550: From the earlier platte forme, a derivative of the Middle French plateforme (a flat form) from plate (flat) from the Old French plat, from the Ancient Greek πλατύς (platús) (flat) + forme (form) from the Latin fōrma (shape; figure; form”).

Lindsay Lohan in Saint Laurent Billy leopard-print platform boots (Saint Laurent part number is 5324690SR00), New York, March 2019.