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

It can even clock what time of day you’re watching, as well as the obscure Criterion print you’re spinning in your not-smart DVD player.

From Slate • May 3, 2026

Hundreds of watches, an encyclopedic knowledge of the movie and its production, a worn-out DVD copy hanging on by a thread, and a whole career later, I still owe it everything.

From Salon • May 1, 2026

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

DVD sales have been falling for years, dropping more than 20% in 2023 and 2024 alone.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 23, 2026

Even though the DVD player flashed 9:26 across the screen, I decided to go to bed.

From "The Boy in the Black Suit" by Jason Reynolds