disk
dihsk
Disk (noun) means a flat, round, thin object. Example: “She cut a thin disk of wood from the branch and sanded it smooth.”
noun
1
A flat, round, thin object.
"She cut a thin disk of wood from the branch and sanded it smooth."
"The coin is a small metal disk with a hole in the middle."
"A coin is a disk of metal."
"The Frisbee is basically a plastic disk you throw through the air."
2
A round, flat storage device used in computers, such as a hard disk or floppy disk.
"The old computer would not start because its hard disk had failed."
"He kept the family photos on a spare disk in the drawer."
"Back up your files to an external disk before the update."
How to use disk
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething flat and circular, or a computer storage device shaped that way.
UK vs US
American English generally prefers "disk" for computing (hard disk, disk drive) while British English often uses "disc" for physical media like CDs; usage overlaps a lot in practice.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
hard disk
disk drive
disk space
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- disks
- Past tense
- disked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She cut a thin _____ of wood from the branch and sanded it smooth.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek diskos, "a round plate for throwing" — the same root that also gives us "disc," "discus," "dish," and "desk."
Related words
Rhymes for disk
See all rhymes for disk →Frequently asked questions
What does “disk” mean?
The word “disk” means a flat, round, thin object. In plain terms, something flat and circular, or a computer storage device shaped that way.
How do you pronounce “disk”?
“Disk” is pronounced dihsk (/dɪsk/ in IPA).
How do you use “disk” in a sentence?
Here is “disk” used in a sentence: “The Frisbee is basically a plastic disk you throw through the air.”
What part of speech is “disk”?
“Disk” is a noun.
Where does the word “disk” come from?
The word “disk” comes from Ancient Greek. From Ancient Greek diskos, "a round plate for throwing" — the same root that also gives us "disc," "discus," "dish," and "desk.".
Is “disk” a common word?
“Disk” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “disk” have?
“Disk” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a flat, round, thin object.
What is the difference between disk and disc?
Both spellings refer to a flat, round, thin object, but convention splits them: disk is standard in American English and in computing (hard disk, floppy disk), while disc is preferred in British English and for optical media such as compact discs and DVDs. Neither spelling is wrong; the choice depends on region and subject matter.
Is it hard disk or hard disc?
The computer storage device is almost always written "hard disk," with a k, in both American and British English. The disc spelling is reserved mainly for optical media such as CDs and DVDs.
What is a disk in computing?
In computing, a disk is a round, flat storage device such as a hard disk or floppy disk. The word survives in phrases like "disk space" and "disk drive" even though modern solid-state storage contains no spinning disk at all.
Is it slipped disk or slipped disc?
Both spellings appear for the back condition. British English strongly prefers "slipped disc," while American medical writing generally uses "disk" for the structures of the spine.
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