cd-rom

noun

1. a compact disk on which a large amount of digitized read-only data can be stored.

noun

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

1983, in computer jargon; also cd-rom; from compact disc read-only memory.

1. A compact disk containing permanently stored data that cannot be altered.

An acronym for compact disc-read only memory. Commonly known as CDs, these plastic discs hold information that can be read by laser. (Compare magnetic tape.)