disk

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Disk

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[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

enPR: dĭsk, IPA: /dɪsk/, SAMPA: /dIsk/
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[edit] Etymology

From Ancient Greek δίσκος (diskos), “‘a circular plate suited for hurling’”), from δικείν (dikein), “‘to hurl, to launch’”).

[edit] Noun

Singular
disk

Plural
disks

disk (plural disks)

A thin, flat, circular plate or similar object.

A coin is a disk of metal.
(figuratively) Something resembling a disk.

Venus' disk cut off light from the Sun.
(dated) A vinyl phonograph / gramophone record.

Turn the disk over, after it has finished.
(computing) A floppy disk - removable magnetic medium or a hard disk - fixed, persistent digital storage.

He still uses floppy disks from 1979.
(computing, nonstandard) A disc - either a CD-ROM, an audio CD, a DVD or similar removable storage medium.

She burned some disks yesterday to back up her computer.

[edit] Usage notes

In International English, disk is the correct spelling for magnetic disks. If the medium is optical, the variant disc is usually preferred, although computing is a peculiar field for the term. For instance hard disk and other disk drives are always thusly spelled, yet so are terms like compact discs. Thus, if referring to a physical drive or older media (3" or 5.25" diskettes) the k is used, but c is used for newer (optical based) media.