Word forms: plural compact discsregional note: in AM, also use compact disk
countable noun [oft onNOUN]
Compact discs are small shiny discs that contain music or computer information. The abbreviation CD is also used.
The soundtrack of 'Highlander II' will be released on compact disc at Easter.
compact disc in British English
(ˈkɒmpækt)
noun
a small digital audio disc on which sound is recorded as a series of metallic pits enclosed in PVC; the disc is spun by the compact disc player and read by an optical laser system
Also called: compact audio disc. Abbreviation: CD, CAD
compact disc in American English
(ˈkɑmˌpækt) or compact disk (ˈkɑmˌpækt)
a small, plastic optical disc for storing digital data, recording sounds digitally, etc.
Examples of 'compact disc' in a sentence
compact disc
It is available on compact disc and digital download formats.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The joint venture will make chemicals used to produce plastic bottles, compact discs, computers and agricultural chemicals.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
compact disc
British English: compact disc /ˈkɒmpækt dɪsk/ NOUN
Compact discs are small discs on which sound, especially music, is recorded. The abbreviation `CD' is also used.
American English: compact disc
Arabic: قُرْص مَضْغُوط
Brazilian Portuguese: disco compacto
Chinese: 激光唱片
Croatian: kompakt disk
Czech: kompaktní disk
Danish: cd
Dutch: compact disc
European Spanish: disco compacto
Finnish: CD-levy
French: disque compact
German: Compact Disc
Greek: συμπιεσμένος δίσκος
Italian: compact disc
Japanese: コンパクトディスク
Korean: 콤팩트디스크
Norwegian: CD-plate
Polish: płyta kompaktowa
European Portuguese: disco compacto
Romanian: compact disc
Russian: компакт-диск
Latin American Spanish: disco compacto
Swedish: cd-skiva
Thai: แผ่นดิสก์
Turkish: kompakt disk
Ukrainian: компакт-диск
Vietnamese: đĩa CD
All related terms of 'compact disc'
compact audio disc
a small digital audio disc on which sound is recorded as a series of metallic pits enclosed in PVC; the disc is spun by the compact disc player and read by an optical laser system
compact-disc video
a compact-disc player that, when connected to a television and hi-fi , produces high-quality stereo sound and synchronized pictures from a disc resembling a large compact audio disc
compact video disc
a compact laser disc that plays both pictures and sound
compact disc erasable
compact disc erasable: a compact disc that can be used to record and rerecord
compact disc player
a machine for playing compact discs
compact disc recordable
compact disc recordable: a compact disc that can be used to record only once
CD-video
a compact-disc player that, when connected to a television and hi-fi , produces high-quality stereo sound and synchronized pictures from a disc resembling a large compact audio disc
CD player
A CD player is a machine on which you can play CDs.