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Optical disc: meaning, definitions and examples

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optical disc

[ ˈɒptɪkəl dɪsk ]

Noun

^{Context #1 | Noun}

storage media

An optical disc is a type of storage medium that is read and written to by a laser. It is used to store data, such as music, videos, and software.

Synonyms

Blu-ray, CD, DVD.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
optical disc	General term for any type of data storage media that uses laser technology to read and write data. Suitable for discussions where the specific type of disc is not important or when referring to the technology as a whole. Optical discs are commonly used for storing large amounts of data. The development of optical disc technology has significantly improved over the years.
CD	Known for storing music, software, and smaller amounts of data compared to DVDs and Blu-ray discs. Appropriate for discussions about older technology or audio storage. I have a collection of my favorite music on CD. Installing the software requires you to insert the CD into the drive.
DVD	Associated with video content and data storage, offering better quality than CDs but not as high-definition as Blu-rays. Commonly used in discussions about standard-definition video and medium-level data storage. We rented a DVD to watch a movie tonight. The presentation files are saved on a DVD.
Blu-ray	Used when referring to high-definition video and larger storage capacity compared to CDs and DVDs. Often mentioned in the context of home entertainment systems and high-quality movie viewing. I bought a Blu-ray player to watch high-definition movies. Blu-ray discs offer better video quality than DVDs.

Examples of usage

The movie is stored on an optical disc.
I need to burn this file onto an optical disc for backup purposes.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

technology

An optical disc is a flat, usually circular disc that encodes binary data in the form of pits and lands on a reflective surface. It is commonly used for data storage and playback of media.

Synonyms

digital disc, laser disc.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
optical disc	This term is used in a general sense to describe any storage medium that uses laser technology to read and write data. It is often mentioned in technical and everyday contexts when referring to CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs. Can you pass me that optical disc with the software on it? Optical discs are becoming less common with the rise of digital downloads.
digital disc	This phrase can be used to emphasize the digital nature of the data stored on the disc, often in a broader context to compare with analog media. It is also used to refer to a variety of digital storage discs including CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays. The digital disc contains high-quality video files. Digital discs have largely replaced analog formats in the music industry.
laser disc	While it is sometimes used synonymously with other types of optical discs, 'laser disc' specifically refers to an early type of large-format optical disc used primarily for video that has been largely replaced by more modern formats. It is typically used in historical or nostalgic contexts. She has a collection of old movies on laser disc. Laser discs were popular in the 1980s and 1990s before DVDs took over.

Word

Description / Examples

optical disc

This term is used in a general sense to describe any storage medium that uses laser technology to read and write data. It is often mentioned in technical and everyday contexts when referring to CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs.

Can you pass me that optical disc with the software on it?
Optical discs are becoming less common with the rise of digital downloads.

digital disc

This phrase can be used to emphasize the digital nature of the data stored on the disc, often in a broader context to compare with analog media. It is also used to refer to a variety of digital storage discs including CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays.

The digital disc contains high-quality video files.
Digital discs have largely replaced analog formats in the music industry.

laser disc

While it is sometimes used synonymously with other types of optical discs, 'laser disc' specifically refers to an early type of large-format optical disc used primarily for video that has been largely replaced by more modern formats. It is typically used in historical or nostalgic contexts.

She has a collection of old movies on laser disc.
Laser discs were popular in the 1980s and 1990s before DVDs took over.

Examples of usage

The optical disc revolutionized the way we store and access information.
Many computers come with optical disc drives for reading and writing data.

Translations

Translations of the word "optical disc" in other languages:

🇵🇹 disco óptico

🇮🇳 ऑप्टिकल डिस्क

🇩🇪 optische Disc

🇮🇩 cakram optik

🇺🇦 оптичний диск

🇵🇱 dysk optyczny

🇯🇵 光ディスク

🇫🇷 disque optique

🇪🇸 disco óptico

🇹🇷 optik disk

🇰🇷 광학 디스크

🇸🇦 قرص ضوئي

🇨🇿 optický disk

🇸🇰 optický disk

🇨🇳 光盘

🇸🇮 optični disk

🇮🇸 ljósskífa

🇰🇿 оптикалық диск

🇬🇪 ოპტიკური დისკი

🇦🇿 optik disk

🇲🇽 disco óptico

Etymology

The concept of optical disc technology dates back to the 1950s when researchers explored ways to store and retrieve data using light. The first commercially available optical disc system, the LaserDisc, was introduced in 1978. Over the years, optical discs evolved to include formats like CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs, offering increased storage capacity and higher data transfer rates. Despite the rise of digital media, optical discs remain popular for archiving and distributing large amounts of data.