desk

[desk]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR desk ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

an article of furniture having a broad, usually level, writing surface, as well as drawers or compartments for papers, writing materials, etc.

a frame for supporting a book from which the service is read in a church.

a pulpit.

the section of a large organization, as a governmental bureau or newspaper, having authority over and responsibility for particular operations within the organization: city desk; foreign desk.

a table or counter, as in a library or office, at which a specific job is performed or a service offered: an information desk; reception desk.

a stand used to support sheet music; music stand.

(in an orchestra) a seat or position assigned by rank (usually used in combination): a first-desk flutist.

adjective

of or relating to a writing desk: a desk drawer.

of a size or form suitable for use on a desk: desk dictionary.

done at or based on a desk, as in an office or schoolroom: He used to be a traveling salesman, but now he has a desk job.

Nearby words

Origin of desk

1350–1400; Middle English deske < Medieval Latin desca, descus desk, lectern, probably < a Romance-influenced form of Latin discus discus; cf. dais, dish, Medieval Latin discus refectory table

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for desk

I was sick in street gutters, onto my desk, at dinners with friends.
I Tried to Warn You About Sleazy Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in 2003|Vicky Ward|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
President Harry Truman kept a sign on his desk that read: “The Buck Stops Here.”
The ‘No Child’ Rewrite Threatens Your Kids’ Future|Jonah Edelman|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
While the desk sergeant ran a background check, he was roughed up by another officer in the lock-up.
What Would Happen if I Got in White Cop’s Face?|Goldie Taylor|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She suggested that Gregory stack newspapers on his desk to give the set an intimate, coffeehouse feel.
David Gregory's 'Meet the Press' Eviction Exposed in Washingtonian Takedown|Lloyd Grove|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The man behind the desk is a fictional character—a ferocious patriot exposing the limits of rigid ideology.
The End of Truthiness: Stephen Colbert’s Sublime Finale|Noel Murray|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The door was still open, and Kit was still fussing about his desk.
Deering of Deal|Latta Griswold
Inside, a sweating adjutant toiled at a mass of papers on the desk before him.
Our Casualty And Other Stories|James Owen Hannay, AKA George A. Birmingham
He closed the door noiselessly and seating himself at his desk, proceeded with slow deliberation to open his accumulated mail.
Ann Arbor Tales|Karl Edwin Harriman
To his surprise Dr Plummer did not strike, but returned quietly to his desk.
Tom, Dick and Harry|Talbot Baines Reed
Glennard had moved away from the desk and stood leaning against the calf-backed volumes of the bookcase.
The Touchstone|Edith Wharton

British Dictionary definitions for desk

desk

noun

a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments

a service counter or table in a public building, such as a hotelinformation desk

a support, lectern, or book rest for the book from which services are read in a church

the editorial section of a newspaper, etc, responsible for a particular subjectthe news desk

a music stand shared by two orchestral players
these two players

(modifier)

made for use at a deska desk calendar
done at a deska desk job

Word Origin for desk

C14: from Medieval Latin desca table, from Latin discus disc, dish

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for desk

desk

mid-14c., from Medieval Latin desca "table to write on" (mid-13c.), from Latin discus "quoit, platter, dish," from Greek diskos. The Medieval Latin is perhaps via Italian desco. Used figuratively of office or clerical work since 1797; desk job is first attested 1965.

desk

noun

adjective

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Origin of desk

Examples from the Web for desk

desk

noun

Word Origin for desk

desk