English Reference

Word

disc

US/ˈdɪsk/

UK/dˈɪsk/

US spelling · disk

Definitions

01flat circular object

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a thin, flat, and round object.

n. a thin, flat, circular plate or similar geometric object.

“The sun looked like a glowing orange disc as it sank below the horizon.”

“The ancient artifact was a small bronze disc engraved with symbols that scholars believe represent the lunar cycle.”

Synonyms

02anatomy

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Medicine

n. one of the flat pieces of cartilage between the bones in your back.

n. a layer of cartilage between the vertebrae in the spine that acts as a shock absorber.

“He had to stay in bed for a week after slipping a disc while lifting heavy boxes.”

“The patient complained of acute lower back pain resulting from a herniated disc that was pressing against a nerve.”

03music/media

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a flat, round object used to store music, films, or computer data.

n. a circular medium for the storage of digital or analogue information, such as a CD, DVD, or vinyl record.

“She still has a large collection of old vinyl discs from the 1970s.”

“The software is distributed on an optical disc, though most users now prefer to download the installer directly from the cloud.”

Synonyms

04flying toy

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Sports

n. a plastic toy that you throw through the air for sport or fun.

n. a generic term for a flying disc used in recreational throwing or competitive sports.

“We spent the afternoon at the park throwing a plastic disc for the dog to catch.”

“The ultimate frisbee team practiced their long-range disc tosses despite the challenging wind conditions at the stadium.”

Synonyms

frisbee

05farming

C2 · Proficiency Agriculture Technical

v. to break up soil on a farm using a machine with sharp round plates.

v. to use a disc harrow to break up clods of earth and prepare a field for planting.

“The farmer needs to disc the field before he can plant the corn.”

“After the initial plowing, the tractor was used to disc the soil to a finer consistency suitable for the delicate vegetable seeds.”

Usage

The verb is transitive and takes the field or soil as its object.

Synonyms

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “disc” in context.

Verb

01. eject the disc

“Don't forget to eject the disc before you turn off the computer.”

verb + noun

02. insert the disc

“Please insert the disc into the player to start the installation process.”

verb + noun

03. slip a disc

“He slipped a disc while trying to lift the heavy sofa by himself.”

verb + noun

Adjective

04. herniated disc

“The doctor confirmed that her back pain was caused by a herniated disc.”

adj + noun

05. shiny disc

“The magpie was attracted to the shiny disc lying on the grass.”

adj + noun

Noun

06. disc brake

“Modern mountain bikes are usually equipped with a powerful disc brake system.”

noun + noun

07. disc jockey

“The disc jockey played a great mix of eighties hits at the wedding.”

noun + noun

08. disc space

“You need to delete some old files to free up more disc space on your laptop.”

noun + noun

Real-World Examples

“These discs are ring-shaped and consist of gas and dust; they are the birthplace of planets.”
ScienceDaily 16 Sept 2026
“The results show that no single process controls how a planet-forming disk disappears.”
Phys.org 25 Aug 2026

Etymology

From French disque, from Latin discus, from Ancient Greek δίσκος (dískos, “disk, quoit, platter”). Doublet of dais, desk, discus, dish, disk, and diskos.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Domains

AgricultureAnatomyAviationBotany

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
Frequency
Common
Level
B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
Updated

QR code

englishreference.com/q/disc

English Reference