MP3:

A compressed audio format that is popular for downloading across the internet and for use with memory-based audio players. Files may be recorded on CD-R or CD-RW media for playback in compatible DVD players, audio CD players, and CD-ROM drives. Files are usually named as "*.mp3". Sound quality varies as a function of the recording/encoding bit rate. In our opinion, anything recorded with less than 128 kbps data rate will sound degraded. For a high fidelity home audio system, we would recommend MP3s encoded at no less than 256 kbps data rate. Anything less would mean too much compression was used at the cost of sound fidelity. See Windows Media Audio (WMA).
timefordvd.com/glossary/GlossaryLtoM.shtml


MPEG-1 layer 3 audio encoding, used to compress audio on CD-ROMs and for downloading via the Internet.
www.disctronics.co.uk/technology/glossary/glossary_mn.htm


A standard technology and format for compressing a sound sequence into a very small file (about one-twelfth the size of the original file) while preserving the original level of sound quality when it is played. MP3 is the most poplular Internet-Audio format and is revolutionizing the music distribution industry by allowing users to download music over the Internet.
www.parthusceva.com/news/glossary.html


An increasingly popular way to store audio in electronic format. The MP3 format compresses audio files in such a way that the file size is relatively small, but the song sounds nearly perfect. You can identify MP3 files because they end in the ".mp3" extension. Typically 1 MB is equal to one minute of music or several minutes for spoken word/audiobooks.
www.ianr.unl.edu/pubs/consumered/nf457.htm