hard drive
compound.compound. the part of a computer that stores all your files, photos, and programs permanently.
compound. a high-capacity storage device containing magnetic disks that rotates at high speeds to record and retrieve digital data.
I need a bigger hard drive for all my photos.
The technician explained that the computer was slow because the hard drive was almost completely full.
While cloud storage is convenient for sharing files, many professionals still prefer a local hard drive for the speed and security it offers when handling large video projects.
A compound of hard and drive. The term emerged to distinguish rigid, non-removable storage platters from the flexible, removable magnetic media known as floppy disks.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Often used as a compound noun; can be shortened to 'hard disk' or simply 'drive' in technical contexts.
Last updated July 22, 2026