compact disc recordable
    n 1: a compact disc on which you can write only once and
         thereafter is read-only memory [syn: CD-R, compact disc
         recordable, CD-WO, compact disc write-once]

Compact Disc Recordable

    (CD-R) A write-once version of CD-ROM.  CD-Rs can
   hold about 650 megabytes of data.  They are very durable and
   can be read by normal CD-ROM drives, but once data has been
   written it cannot be altered.

   Standard prerecorded CDs have their information permanently
   stamped into an aluminium reflecting layer.  CD-R discs have a
   dye-based recording layer and an additional golden reflecting
   layer.

   Digital information is written to the disc by burning
   (forming) pits in the recording layer in a pattern
   corresponding to that of a conventional CD.

   The laser beam heats the substrate and recording layer to
   approximately 250 C.  The recording layer melts and the
   substrate expands into the space that becomes available.

   <Phillips: New Technologies>.

   See also CD-RW and DVD-RAM.

   (1999-08-01)