HDD
5 synonyms and 2 antonyms for HDD, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A storage device that records data magnetically on rapidly spinning metal or glass discs, read and written by an arm that moves across their surface, and that keeps its contents when the power is off.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
hard disk drive
hard drive
hard disk
spinning disk
mechanical drive
Antonyms
SSD
solid-state drive
How to use HDD
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
external HDD
internal HDD
HDD capacity
7200 RPM HDD
HDD is the retail and specification term; in speech people usually say hard drive.
Etymology
An initialism of hard disk drive.
Full origin of HDD →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an HDD and an SSD?
An HDD has moving parts: platters that spin and a head that swings across them to find data, which takes time and makes noise. An SSD uses flash memory chips with nothing moving, so it responds far faster. HDDs generally give more storage per pound spent.
Is a hard drive the same as memory?
No. A hard drive is storage and keeps files after the machine is switched off. Memory usually means RAM, which is temporary working space that is wiped when the power goes. Confusing the two is one of the most common mix-ups in computing.
Why are HDDs still sold?
Because they remain cheaper per terabyte than flash, which matters for backups, media libraries and data centres where capacity counts for more than speed.
