compact disk

3 definitions found

compact disk - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  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]

  laser disk \laser disk\ n.
     A digital data storage medium consisting of a thin disk onto
     which the data is impressed by a laser, in the form of a
     linear sequence of dots; same as optical disk. The data is
     subsequently read back by the use of a laser beam. See also
     compact disk.
  
     Note: The original disk may be created by use of a laser, but
           copies of the original disk may be created by a
           replicating process which does not itself require a
           laser.
           [PJC]

compact disk - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  compact disk
      n 1: a digitally encoded recording on an optical disk that is
           smaller than a phonograph record; played back by a laser
           [syn: compact disk, compact disc, CD]