disk

noun, often attributive \ ˈdisk \

variants: or disc

|Updated on: 9 Jun 2018

Definition of disk

1 a : the seemingly flat figure of a celestial body

the solar disk

b archaic : discus

2 : any of various rounded and flattened animal anatomical structures; especially : intervertebral disk — compare slipped disk

3 : the central part of the flower head of a typical composite made up of closely packed tubular flowers

4 : a thin circular object: such as

a usually disc : a phonograph record

b : a round flat plate coated with a magnetic substance on which data for a computer is stored

c usually disc : optical disk: such as

(1) : videodisc

(2) : cd

5 usually disc : one of the concave circular steel tools with sharpened edge making up the working part of a disc harrow or plow; also : an implement employing such tools

—

disklike

play \-ˌlīk\ adjective

See disk defined for kids

Recent Examples of disk from the Web

Astronomers who study these disks have already spotted multiple specks of light hiding inside.

— joshua sokol, WIRED, "These Spinning Disks of Gas and Dust Reveal How Planets Get Made," 28 May 2018
Each disk has a thick, fibrous outer layer and a gel-like center.

— roy berendson, Popular Mechanics, "The Back Pain Repair Manual," 22 May 2018
For the Snow White, chunks of raw baby amberjack piled over disks of cucumbers are married to a clear, sharply acidic liquid with a whisper of truffle oil, an ingredient that too often overwhelms but here adds a judicious counterbalance.

— todd a. price, NOLA.com, "Luvi's chef tells a deliciously beautiful story: First look review," 22 May 2018
Some are thick, but many are ultra-thin, platter-size disks that dwarf their hamburger buns.

— liz biro, Indianapolis Star, "The most iconic foods of the Indy 500," 21 May 2018
Rondeau has made disks of Rameau and the Bach family for the Erato label.

— alex ross, The New Yorker, "The Rebel Harpsichordists," 14 May 2018
Neither Microsoft nor any computer manufacturers sell restore disks.

— tom jackman, Washington Post, "E-waste recycler Eric Lundgren loses appeal on computer restore disks, must serve 15-month prison term," 24 Apr. 2018
Siphoned off by the black hole’s gravitational pull, the star’s outer layers will pile up outside the black hole’s maw in a spiraling, steadily glowing disk.

— lee billings, Scientific American, "Astronomers Spy Swarms of Black Holes at Our Galaxy's Core," 4 Apr. 2018
The injuries started piling up almost immediately after the ride opened: whiplash, concussions, broken toes, lacerations, slipped spinal disks and fractures, according to park records detailed in the indictment.

— joshua fechter, San Antonio Express-News, "Schlitterbahn co-owner plagued with financial, legal troubles before murder charge in boy’s death," 31 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'disk.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.