disk

1 of 2

noun

variants or disc
plural disks or discs
1
a
: the seemingly flat figure of a celestial body
the solar disk
b
archaic : discus
2
usually disc : any of various rounded and flattened animal anatomical structures
especially : intervertebral disc see also slipped disc
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 disc: such as
(1)
(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 adjective
or disclike
disklike particles

Illustration of disk

Illustration of disk
  • disk 3 D

disk

2 of 2

verb

variants or disc
disked or disced; disking or discing; disks or discs

transitive verb

: to cultivate with an implement (such as a harrow or plow) that turns and loosens the soil with a series of discs

Examples of disk in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Astronomers have observed hundreds of planet-forming disks surrounding young stars for years, many of which display gaps in their rings. Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 29 Aug. 2025 In addition, Masimo also noted that this reversal comes after Apple committed an additional $100 billion in US investment for a total of $600 billion, in a ceremony where Apple CEO Tim Cook presented Trump with an engraved glass disk mounted on a 24K-gold base. Julian Chokkattu, Wired News, 23 Aug. 2025 Today, as digital downloads have become more prevalent than physical disks, the need for an external hard drive is growing. Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025 Venus will be visible as a bright 'morning star' shining approximately 5 degrees to the lower right of the lunar disk, while Jupiter will sit less than 10 degrees to the upper right of the moon, forming the highest point of the cosmic triangle. Anthony Wood, Space.com, 19 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for disk

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from Latin discus "discus, kind of plate, gong" borrowed from Greek dískos "discus," in Late Greek also "dish, round mirror, the sun's disk, gong" — more at discus

Verb

derivative of disk entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1884, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of disk was in 1664

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Disk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disk. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

disk

1 of 2 noun
variants or disc
1
a
: the central part of the flower head of a typical plant (as a daisy or aster) of the composite family made up of closely packed tube-shaped flowers
b
: any of various rounded and flattened animal anatomical structures
especially : intervertebral disk
2
: a thin circular object: 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
: CD
3
usually disc : a tilling implement (as a plow) with sharp-edged circular cutting blades
also : one of these blades
disklike adjective

disk

2 of 2 verb
variants or disc
: to cultivate (land) with a disc

More from Merriam-Webster on disk

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