dvd

IPA/ˌdiː viː ˈdiː/
KK[dˌivˌidˈi]IPA/ˌdiː viː ˈdiː/

dvd — noun

  • dvdsingular
  • dvdsplural

1. a thin, round plastic disc that stores large amounts of data, used for watching

1.nounA1
Definition

a thin, round plastic disc that stores large amounts of data, used for watching films, playing music, or saving computer files

Example

Zara watched a film on her DVD player last night.

countable noun with article 'a'

I bought a new DVD of my favorite cartoon for my little sister.

DVD + of + [title/content]

Common collocations
  • DVD player
  • DVD drive
  • watch a DVD
  • play a DVD
  • burn a DVD
  • DVD collection
  • box set of DVDs
Synonyms

Usage Note

The word is usually written in capital letters (DVD) and follows regular countable-noun rules: a DVD, two DVDs.

Common Mistakes

I have three DVD at home.
I have three DVDs at home.
DVD is countable and needs a plural 's' in English.

Word family

  • DVD player
    nounA1
  • DVD drive
    nounA2
  • DVD burner
    nounB1
  • rewritable
    adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A CD (compact disc) stores only audio or small data files, whereas a DVD holds much more data — enough for a full-length film. Blu-ray discs store even more data than DVDs and offer higher picture quality, but require a Blu-ray player. Videotape is an older analog format that used magnetic tape inside a cassette; it was common before DVDs but the picture quality is lower and the tape can wear out over time. For everyday use in the 2020s, DVD remains the most widely compatible disc format for renting or buying films.

CD ↗Blu-rayvideotape ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • box set of DVDs
  • rewritable DVD
  • DVD-ROM

Prepositions

  • on DVD
  • onto a DVD

Etymology

English

DVD is an abbreviation that originally stood for 'digital video disc' when the format was introduced in 1995. As the technology expanded to store many kinds of data, the official name was changed to 'digital versatile disc', though the DVD abbreviation stayed the same.