Definition

Noun: A storage medium that uses laser light to read and write data. Data is stored as microscopic pits (or other patterns) on a flat, circular disc made of plastic, metal, or other materials, and is retrieved by a laser beam scanning the surface.

Usage

An "optical disk" is a physical object used for storing digital information such as software, music, videos, or documents. It requires a specific drive (an optical disc drive) with a laser to read the data.

Examples

• The software was distributed on an optical disk.
• I backed up all my old photos onto an optical disk for safekeeping.
• Modern laptops often no longer include a drive for reading optical disks.

Advanced Usage

• "Optical disc": An alternative, and often more technically precise, spelling. "Disc" (with a 'c') is commonly used in computing and storage contexts, while "disk" (with a 'k') is often used for magnetic storage (e.g., hard disk). However, "optical disk" remains widely accepted.
• The term generally refers to the broader category, with specific types being:
  • Read-only memory (ROM) disks: e.g., CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, BD-ROM (Blu-ray Disc ROM). Data is written once during manufacturing and cannot be erased.
  • Recordable (R) disks: e.g., CD-R, DVD-R, BD-R. Users can write data to them once.
  • Rewritable (RW or RE) disks: e.g., CD-RW, DVD-RW, BD-RE. Users can write, erase, and rewrite data multiple times.

Variants and Related Words

• Optical disc (n): A variant spelling. (See Advanced Usage).
• Optical storage (n): The broader technology category for storing data using light.
• Laser disc (n): An older, analog precursor to the DVD, primarily for video.
• Compact Disc (CD) (n): A specific type of optical disk for audio and data.
• Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) (n): A specific type of optical disk with higher storage capacity than a CD.
• Blu-ray Disc (BD) (n): A specific type of optical disk with very high storage capacity, often for high-definition video.

Synonyms

• Optical disc
• Laser disk (historical/contextual)
• Disc (informal, when context is clear)

Antonyms

• Magnetic disk (e.g., hard disk drive, floppy disk)
• Solid-state drive (SSD) (uses flash memory, no moving parts)
• Magnetic tape (e.g., cassette tape, data cartridge)

Noun

1. a disk coated with plastic that can store digital data as tiny pits etched in the surface; is read with a laser that scans the surface