compact disc

Noun

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

a digitally encoded recording on an optical disk that is smaller than a phonograph record; played back by a laserSynonyms: compact disk compact disc CD

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

compact disc \com"pact disc`\, compact disk \com"pact disk`\(k[o^]m"p[a^]kt d[i^]sk`), n. a disk-shaped optical data storage medium approximately 4-3/4 in. in diameter, which stores binary data as microscopic nonreflective holes or pits in an otherwise reflective surface, and is recorded and played back by rotation in an electronic device containing a laser. It is often referred to by its abbreviation CD. It is a type of optical data storage medium. Compact disks are used for recordings of music as well as of data for computer applications.

Syn: CD. [WordNet 1.5 +PJC]

Free On-line Dictionary of Computing

Compact Disc CD

<storage> (CD) (Not "disk", this spelling is part of the standard).

A 4.72 inch disc developed by Sony and Philips that can store, on the same disc, still and/or moving images in monochrome and/or color; stereo or two separate sound tracks integrated with and/or separate from the images; and digital program and information files.

The same fabrication process is used to make both audio CDs and CD-ROMs for storing computer data, the only difference is in the device used to read the CD (the player or drive).

CD Information Center (http://cd-info.com/cd-info/CDInfoCenter.html).

(1999-06-23)