Videodiscs

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of optical storage medium used to store video information, often resembling a compact disc in shape
2. A format that allows for the playback of motion pictures on players designed to read disc-based media
3. An audiovisual medium that typically contains movies or other video content, playable on compatible devices

Etymology: "Videodiscs" is simply the plural of "videodisc," a compound of "video" and "disc." The first part comes from Latin "videre," meaning "to see," which gave English the prefix used for anything relating to picture transmission or display. The second part traces back through Latin "discus" and Greek "diskos," originally a throwing object, before it came to describe the flat, round shape of a recording medium. The plural is formed in the regular way, adding "s" to the singular, so the word follows the same pattern as "disc" and "disk." The combination reflects a common modern habit of pairing an established word with a new technical sense: a flat round object meant for storing images in motion. Its meaning is therefore literal, with each element contributing its original sense.

Synonyms: DVDs, digital discs, optical discs, video formats, media