A CD-ROM is a compact disc that already holds a large amount of computer information. ROM stands for read-only memory, an old computer phrase meaning you can read what is on it, but you cannot write new things onto it.

A CD-ROM isCD-ROM是 that already holds a large amount of computer information已經裝有大量電腦資料的 a compact disc一種光碟。ROM stands forROM代表 read-only memory「唯讀記憶體」, an old computer phrase是個舊式的電腦說法, meaning意思是 you can read你可以讀取 what is on it裡面的東西, but you cannot write但不能寫入 new things onto it新的東西進去。

In the 1990s, software, encyclopedias, and games often came on CD-ROM because one disc could hold much more than a floppy disk. You put it in the computer’s disc drive and the machine reads it.

In the 1990s在1990年代, software, encyclopedias, and games軟體、百科全書和遊戲 often came on CD-ROM常常是用CD-ROM發行的 because one disc could hold much more than a floppy disk因為一片光碟能裝的東西比一片磁片多很多。You put it in the computer's disc drive你把它放進電腦的光碟機, and the machine reads it機器就會讀取它。

A music CD is a close cousin, but people usually say “CD” for music and “CD-ROM” for computer data, though actually some older computers played music CDs in the same drive. Ordinary CD-ROMs are not blank discs for you to record onto; that is what CD-R and CD-RW are for.

A music CD is a close cousin音樂CD是它的近親, but people usually say但人們通常 'CD' for music講音樂會說「CD」 and 'CD-ROM' for computer data講電腦資料才說「CD-ROM」, though actually some older computers played music CDs in the same drive不過其實有些舊電腦是用同一個光碟機播放音樂CD的。Ordinary CD-ROMs are not blank discs for you to record onto一般的CD-ROM不是可以讓你燒錄的空白光碟; that is what CD-R and CD-RW are for那是CD-R和CD-RW的用途。

The name feels a little dated now — many laptops no longer even have a disc drive — but you will still meet it in older books and in vocabulary lists.

The name feels a little dated now這個名字現在聽起來有點過時了 — many laptops no longer even have a disc drive很多筆電甚至已經沒有光碟機了 — but you will still meet it但你還是會遇到它 in older books and in vocabulary lists在比較舊的書和單字表裡。