diskshaped

Disk-shaped is an English term used to describe objects that are roughly circular and flat, resembling a coin or plate. A disk-shaped object has a broad diameter and a relatively small thickness, giving it a flat, rounded profile.

In geometry the term disk refers to the filled circle; a solid disk is equivalent to a short right circular cylinder. Thus a disk-shaped object can be thought of as a cylinder with a small height relative to its radius.

Common examples include everyday items such as coins, plates, washers, CDs and DVDs, and brake discs on vehicles. In technology, data storage uses disk-shaped media (hard disks) and optical discs (disc-shaped media). In physics and astronomy, disk-shaped structures appear as accretion disks around stars and compact objects, and in disk galaxies, which have a flat rotating stellar component.

Measurement and design: the two primary dimensions are diameter (or radius) and thickness. The volume of a disk-shaped solid is approximately π r^2 t, where r is the radius and t is the thickness. Surface area is roughly 2π r^2 plus the lateral area 2π r t, reflecting the two flat faces and the side surface.

Etymology and usage: American English tends to use disk; British English often uses disc, though many technical terms appear in either spelling. The hyphenated disk-shaped is widely understood.