discrete Fourier transform(DFT) A {Fourier transform}, specialized to the case where the {abscissas} are integers. The DFT is central to many kinds of {signal processing}, including the analysis and {compression} of video and {sound} information. A common implementation of the DFT is the {Fast Fourier Transform} (FFT). See also {discrete cosine transform}. (1997-03-10)