hard drive

[ hahrd drahyv ]

noun

, Computers.

1. HDD ( def ).
2. (loosely) a drive for a computer, as a traditional hard disk drive (HDD) or another drive serving a similar function, as opposed to a very small, portable flash drive.

hard drive

noun

1. computing (on a computer) the mechanism that handles the reading, writing, and storage of data on the hard disk

hard drive

1. A disk drive that reads data stored on hard disks.
2. Also called hard disk drive

hard drive

1. The bulk of the memory of a personal computer is magnetically stored on hard disks that constitute the hard drive. Information in the hard drive is durable, in that it remains magnetically stored when the computer is turned off. ( See magnetic memory .)

Word History and Origins

Origin of hard drive¹

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

James Howells, 39, has been trying to retrieve the hard drive containing his lost Bitcoin fortune, which he believes is in a Newport landfill site, for over a decade.

From BBC

A police special investigations seized items including computer hard drives and footage from hotel cameras, said a government official, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

From BBC

Those videos, filmed by Pelicot and kept on a hard drive that he labelled “abuse”, document assaults on his ex-wife, Gisèle, over the course of a decade.

From BBC

A police investigation found 28 Category A images on his laptop and one Category A image on an external hard drive belonging to him.

From BBC

During a 10-hour search of four properties on Wednesday, investigators seized cash and other items, including luxury watches, laptops, hard drives and documents.

From BBC

Related Words

• disk drive
• hardware
• modem
• personal computer
• supercomputer