bureau

[byoor-oh]

noun

plural

bureaus, bureaux 

1. a chest of drawers, often with a mirror at the top.

2. a division of a government department or an independent administrative unit.

3. an office for collecting or distributing news or information, coordinating work, or performing specified services; agency.

   a travel bureau; a news bureau.

4. Chiefly British.,  a desk or writing table with drawers for papers.

bureau

/ ˈbjʊərəʊ /

noun

1. a writing desk with pigeonholes, drawers, etc, against which the writing surface can be closed when not in use

2. a chest of drawers

3. an office or agency, esp one providing services for the public

4. 1. a government department

   2. a branch of a government department

Other Word Forms

• subbureau noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bureau¹

1710–20; < French: desk, office, originally a kind of cloth (used to cover desks, etc.), Anglo-French, Old French burel, equivalent to bur- (probably < *būra, variant of Late Latin burra wool, fluff ; bourrée ) + -el noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of bureau¹

C17: from French: desk, office, originally: type of cloth used for covering desks and tables, from Old French burel , from Late Latin burra shaggy cloth

Example Sentences

Officials from the national police and fire bureau say they are prioritising search and rescue operations, rushing to restore electricity and delivering relief supplies to those affected.

From BBC

Qatar has hosted the Hamas political bureau since 2012 and has served along with the US and Egypt as a mediator in indirect negotiations between the group and Israel throughout the 23-month war in Gaza.

From BBC

The bureau has not specified whether additional disciplinary actions are expected, but the decision is already fueling debate over civil liberties, agency culture, and the boundaries of employee expression in federal service.

From Salon

He accused what he said was the "previous corrupt leadership" of weaponising the bureau's investigatory power.

From BBC

Recently, Page said as an example, the county obtained death records from the credit bureau Experian to help update voter rolls.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• agency 
• authority 
• board 
• commission 
• committee 
• department 
• division 
• office