CD-ROM

abbr. compact disc read-only memory (for retrieval of text or data on a VDU screen).

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noun

a compact disk that is used with a computer (rather than with an audio system); a large amount of digital information can be stored and accessed but it cannot be altered by the user

• Syn: ↑compact disc read-only memory

• Hypernyms:

↑compact disk, ↑compact disc, ↑CD, ↑read-only memory, ↑ROM, ↑read-only storage, ↑fixed storage

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\\¦sēˌdē¦räm\ noun (-s)

Etymology: compact disc read-only memory

: a compact disc containing data that can be read by a computer — compare CD-I herein

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/see"dee'rom"/, n.

a compact disk on which a large amount of digitized read-only data can be stored. Cf. ROM.

[c(ompact) d(isk) r(ead-)o(nly) m(emory)]

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CD-ROM /sē-dē-romˈ/ (computing)

abbrev

Compact disc read-only memory, a system allowing access to, but not alteration of, information on a compact disc

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CD-ROM UK US noun [countable/uncountable] [singular CD-ROM plural CD-ROMs] ★

compact disc read-only memory: a CD that stores large amounts of information for use by a computer

The encyclopedia is now available on CD-ROM.

Thesaurus: computer memory and data storage devices_hyponym

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CD-ROM (no periods),

compact disk read-only memory (an optical disk used for permanent storage of a large amount of data).

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[ˌsē ˌdē 'räm]

n. a compact disc used as a read-only optical memory device for a computer system

Origin:

1980s: acronym from compact disc read-only memory

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/ˌsiːˌdiːˈrɑːm/ noun, pl -ROMs

: a small plastic disk on which large amounts of information (such as books, pictures, or computer programs) are stored in a form that cannot be changed

[count]

The dictionary comes with a free CD-ROM.

[noncount]

The dictionary is available on CD-ROM.

◇ CD-ROM is an abbreviation of “compact disc read-only memory.”

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CD-ROM [CD-ROM CD-ROMs] [ˌsiː diː ˈrɒm] [ˈrɑːm] noun countable, uncountable

the abbreviation for ‘compact disc read-only memory ’ (a CD on which large amounts of information, sound and pictures can be stored, for use on a computer)

•

The software package contains 5 CD-ROMs.

•

The encyclopedia is available on CD-ROM.

•

a CD-ROM drive

(= in a computer)

compare ↑ROM

 

Word Origin:

1980s: acronym from compact disc read-only memory.  

Example Bank:

•

This dictionary is also available on CD-ROM.

•

This is the CD-ROM edition of the encyclopedia.