schijf

Schijf is a Dutch term that refers to a round, flat object with a circular shape. It is used across multiple domains to denote anything from mathematical objects to technical media, as well as everyday items that have a circular, disk-like form.

In mathematics, a schijf (disc) denotes the two-dimensional region consisting of all points at distance less than or equal to a given radius from a center. The boundary of this region is called a cirkel (circle). The area of a schijf with radius r is πr^2, while the circumference refers to the boundary and equals 2πr. The distinction between schijf and cirkel is a common source of terminology in Dutch geometry.

In technology and computing, schijf is frequently used for storage media. A haarde schijf (hard disk drive) uses rotating platters to store data magnetically and remains a core component of many computers. Optical media such as CD-, DVD-, and Blu-ray discs are also commonly referred to as schijven in Dutch, highlighting their flat, circular form. The term is also used in other contexts to describe round metal or plastic plates, slices of food, or other disk-shaped objects.

The word thus encompasses both precise mathematical meaning and broad everyday usage. In each context, the core idea is a flat, circular form with a defined boundary or surface, varying in properties such as material, function, and dimensional constraints.