| 1. | Also called disk, hard disk. a rigid disk coated with magnetic material, on which data and programs can be stored. |
| 2. | floppy disk. |
| hard disk n. A rigid magnetic disk fixed permanently within a drive unit and used for storing computer data. Hard disks generally offer more storage and quicker access to data than floppy disks do. |
hard disk  (härd) Pronunciation Key
A rigid magnetic disk fixed within a disk drive and used for storing computer data. Hard disks hold more data than floppy disks, and data on a hard disk can be accessed faster than data on a floppy disk. |
| magnetic disk
A memory device, such as a floppy disk or a hard disk, that is covered with a magnetic coating. Digital information is stored on magnetic disks in the form of microscopically small, magnetized needles, each of which encodes a single bit of information by being polarized in one direction (representing 1) or the other (representing 0). |
hard disk storage
(In contrast to floppy disk) A magnetic disk data storage device where the disks are rigid and fixed to a central axle. They are usually packaged with associated read/write heads and electronics. Most hard disks are permanently connected to the drive (fixed disks) though there are also removable hard disks.
See magnetic disk.
(2007-06-14)