from
The 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]
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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]