Source : WordNet®

floppy disk
     n : a small plastic magnetic disk enclosed in a stiff envelope
         with a radial slit; used to store data or programs for a
         microcomputer; "floppy disks are noted for their
         relatively slow speed and small capacity and low price"
         [syn: {diskette}, {floppy}]

Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

floppy disk
     
         (Or "floppy", "diskette") A small,
        portable plastic disk coated in a magnetisable substance used
        for storing computer data, readable by a computer with a
        floppy disk drive.  The physical size of disks has shrunk from
        the early 8 inch, to 5 1/4 inch ("minifloppy") to 3 1/2 inch
        ("microfloppy") while the data capacity has risen.
     
        These disks are known as "floppy" disks (or diskettes) because
        the disk is flexible and the read/write head is in physical
        contact with the surface of the disk in contrast to "{hard
        disks}" (or winchesters) which are rigid and rely on a small
        fixed gap between the disk surface and the heads.  Floppies
        may be either single-sided or double-sided.
     
        3.5 inch floppies are less floppy than the larger disks
        because they come in a stiff plastic "envelope" or case, hence
        the alternative names "stiffy" or "crunchy" sometimes used to
        distinguish them from the floppier kind.
     
        The following formats are used on {IBM PC}s and elsewhere:
     
         Capacity  Density  Width
          360K	   double   5.25"
          720K	   double   3.5"
          1.2M	   high	    5.25"
         1.44M	   high	    3.5"
     
        Double denisty and high density are usually abbreviated DD and
        HD.  HD 3.5 inch disks have a second hole in the envelope and
        an overlapping "HD" logo.
     
        (1996-08-23)