disk drive

noun

, Computers.

1. a device that, using an access mechanism under program control, enables data to be read from or written on a spinning magnetic disk, magnetic disk pack, floppy disk, or optical disk.

disk drive

noun

1. computing the controller and mechanism for reading and writing data on computer disks See also disk

disk drive

1. Computer Science.
   A device that reads data stored on a magnetic or optical disk and writes data onto the disk for storage.

Word History and Origins

Origin of disk drive¹

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

While most personal devices like laptops and cell phones use faster flash drives, data centers use cheaper, slower hard disk drives.

From Science Daily

RISC-V essentially provides a kind of common language for designing processors that are found in devices like smartphones, disk drives, Wi-Fi routers and tablets.

From New York Times

If such a magnetar were placed in the moon’s orbit around Earth, it would wipe most credit cards and hard disk drives on the planet.

From Scientific American

Even after "its competitors had stopped selling to them ... Seagate continued sending hard disk drives to Huawei," Matthew Axelrod, the Commerce Department's assistant secretary for export enforcement said in a statement.

From Reuters

She means the CD-ROM drive and hard disk drive, two features she has never known a computer to have in her lifetime.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• hard disk