DVD

American  

abbreviation

1. an optical disk that can store a very large amount of digital data, as text, music, or images.

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DVD British  

abbreviation

1. digital versatile or digital video disk: an optical disk used to store audio, video, or computer data, esp feature films for home viewing

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DVD Scientific  

/ dē′vē-dē′ /

1. A compact disk designed to store large amounts of data, especially high-resolution audio-visual material.

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DVD Cultural  

1. An abbreviation for d igital v ersatile d isc or d igital v ideo d isc. A DVD is a high-capacity disc storage system. It is often preferred to move videotapes for its superior sound and video quality.

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Etymology

Origin of DVD

1990–95; originally d(igital) v(ideo) d(isk) ; then d(igital) v(ersatile) d(isk) ; now an abbreviation only

Example Sentences

When Reed Hastings co-founded Netflix as a mail-order DVD business in 1997, he wanted to create a work environment that didn’t limit employees with rigid procedures and that pushed everyone to take ownership of decision-making.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 18, 2026

Netflix came out of nowhere in the mid-2000s to topple Blockbuster in the DVD rental market.

From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026

When the two-hour movie ended, one attendee won the big raffle prize, which included “Waiting to Exhale” on DVD — and a DVD player to play it.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 23, 2026

Netflix has a very strong record of adaptation, evidenced by its not-too-distant past as a mail-order DVD outfit.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 21, 2026

Did she have a DVD player, because they’d gotten this VHS player at a thrift store for only five dollars—Five dollars!

From "We'll Fly Away" by Bryan Bliss