DVD

Definition: Stands for Digital Versatile Disc, which is a disc 12 centimeters (approximately 4 3/4 inches) in diameter that is used to store data, including video and audio. A DVD looks like a music CD, but has six or seven times the storage capacity, enough to hold a feature film. DVDs containing movies began being released in 1997, and because the video and audio quality is superior to that of VHS tapes, consumers quickly came to prefer the new medium. The most popular way to watch a movie that has been prerecorded on a DVD is on the screen of a TV set which has been connected to a special device known as a DVD player. Another way to watch a movie on DVD is to use a computer that has a DVD drive. In addition, there are small portable devices capable of playing DVDs.