floppy disk

or flop·py·disk


noun

Computers. a thin plastic disk coated with magnetic material, on which computer data and programs can be stored for later retrieval.
Also called floppy, diskette, flexible disk, magnetic disk.

Origin of floppy disk

First recorded in 1970–75; called floppy from the fact that the earliest disks are ‘flexible’, though the later (3.5 inch) disks have a rigid plastic case

Words nearby floppy disk

British Dictionary definitions for floppy disk

floppy disk

noun

a flexible removable magnetic disk that stores information and can be used to store data for use in a microprocessor Also called: diskette, flexible disk

Scientific definitions for floppy disk

floppy disk
[ flŏppē ]

A flexible plastic disk coated with magnetic material and covered by a protective jacket, used for storing data. Floppy disks were once the principal storage medium for personal computers, but inexpensive hard disks and writable compact disks have greatly diminished their role.