CD-ROM

C0181300 (sē′dē′rŏm′)n. A compact disc that functions as read-only memory.

CD-ROM

(-ˈrɒm) n (Electronics) compact disc read-only memory; a compact disc used with a computer system as a read-only optical disk

CD-ROM

(ˈsiˌdiˈrɒm)

n. a compact disc on which a large amount of digitized read-only data can be stored. Compare ROM. [1985–90; c(ompact) d(isc) r(ead-)o(nly) m(emory)]

CD-ROM

(sē′dē′rŏm′) A compact disk containing permanently stored data that cannot be altered.

Thesaurus

Noun

CD-ROM - a compact disk that is used with a computer (rather than with an audio system); a large amount of digital information can be stored and accessed but it cannot be altered by the usercompact disc read-only memorycompact disc, compact disk, CD - a digitally encoded recording on an optical disk that is smaller than a phonograph record; played back by a laserfixed storage, read-only memory, read-only storage, ROM - (computer science) memory whose contents can be accessed and read but cannot be changed

Translations

CD

(siːˈdiː) noun (abbreviation) compact disc. 光盘（缩写式） CD player noun an electrical instrument for playing compact discs. 激光唱机CD-ˈROM noun (abbreviation) compact disk read-only memory; a disk which stores information that can be displayed on a computer. 只读光盘驱动器

CD-ROM

→ 光盘驱动器zhCN

CD-ROM

CD-ROM:

see compact disccompact disc
(CD), a small plastic disc used for the storage of digital data. As originally developed for audio systems, the sound signal is sampled at a rate of 44,100 times a second, then each sample is measured and digitally encoded on the 4 3-4 in (12 cm) disc as a series of
..... Click the link for more information. .

CD-ROM

[¦sē¦dē ′räm] (computer science) compact-disk read-only memory

CD-ROM

compact disc read-only memory; a compact disc used with a computer system as a read-only optical disk

CD-ROM

Compact Disc Read-Only Memory

CD-ROM

(Compact Disc-Read Only Memory) A type of CD disc that can only be read, but not recorded. Used to store programs and data files, a CD-ROM holds 650MB or 700MB of data and employs a different recording format than the audio CD (CD-DA), from which it evolved. In the 1990s, the CD-ROM rapidly replaced the floppy disk for software distribution.

An audio CD player cannot read CD-ROMs, but CD-ROM drives can play audio discs. In practice, the term "CD" refers to all CD formats. The phrase "insert the installation CD" really means "insert the installation CD-ROM."

How CD-ROMs Are Made
CD-ROMs are made by "burning" a blank CD-R disc and sending it to a media manufacturer, which creates a master disc that is used to stamp out the required quantity. See CD-R and mini CD.

Pretty Slow in the Beginning
Back in the late 1980s, the first CD-ROM drives transferred data at 150KB per second. By doubling the spindle speed from 530 to 1,060 RPM, the transfer rate doubled to 300KB (2x). For several years thereafter, speeds increased until reaching 48x and higher, making the "1x" drive painfully slow by comparison. For details about speeds, see CD-ROM drives. Access times range from 80 to 150ms. See CD-R, CD-RW, DVD and optical disc.

Caddy Load and Tray Load

Earlier drives used a caddy. The disc must be inserted into the caddy, and the caddy inserted into the drive. Today, drives are caddyless. The disc is placed into a tray.

Caddy Load and Tray Load

Earlier drives used a caddy. The disc must be inserted into the caddy, and the caddy inserted into the drive. Today, drives are caddyless. The disc is placed into a tray.

Reading CDs and CD-ROMs

Digital data are carved into the disc as pits (low spots) and lands (high spots). As the laser shines into the moving pits and lands, a sensor detects a change in reflection when it encounters a transition from pit to land or land to pit. Each transition is a 1. The lack of transitions are 0s. There is only one laser in a drive. Two are used here to illustrate the difference in reflection.

See CD-ROM

CD-ROM

CD-ROM

CD-ROM

CD-ROM

CD-ROM

CD

CD-ROM

CD-ROM

CD-ROM:

CD-ROM

CD-ROM

CD-ROM

CD-ROM

CD-ROM

CD-ROM

CD-ROM

CD-ROM

Synonyms for CD-ROM

noun a compact disk that is used with a computer (rather than with an audio system)

Synonyms

Related Words