desk

American  

[desk] / dɛsk /

noun

• desks
  plural

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

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

3. a pulpit.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. a stand used to support sheet music; music stand.

7. (in an orchestra) a seat or position assigned by rank (usually used in combination).

   a first-desk flutist.

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adjective

1. of or relating to a writing desk.

   a desk drawer.

2. of a size or form suitable for use on a desk.

   desk dictionary.

3. 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.

desk British  

/ dɛsk /

noun

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

2. a service counter or table in a public building, such as a hotel

   information desk

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

4. the editorial section of a newspaper, etc, responsible for a particular subject

   the news desk

5. 1. a music stand shared by two orchestral players

   2. these two players

6. (modifier)

   1. made for use at a desk

      a desk calendar

   2. done at a desk

      a desk job

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• desks
  plural

Etymology

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

Explanation

The flat-surfaced piece of furniture at which you sit and work, write, or use your computer is called a desk. Some offices have a desk for each employee. Students often sit at classroom desks arranged in rows, and you'll also find desks in libraries, offices, and homes. Your college roommate might prefer to study while lying in bed, while you like working at your desk. Someone who has a "desk job" works in an office. Desk comes from the Medieval Latin desca, "table to write on," which has a Greek root, diskos, "platter or disk."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

desk desks

In another group, the tablet lay flat on a desk set at a lower height, which encouraged participants to lean forward and hunch over.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 5, 2026

Faraji is an entomologist who sometimes calls the insects he studies “skeeters” and who sent me a photo of his desk piled high with mosquito-related history books when I asked him for reading recommendations.

From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026

During a U.S. cabinet meeting on Friday, Reuters snapped a ‘To Do” list on Bessent’s desk notepad that contained a solitary entry: “Buy Japanese yen $5-10 bill.”

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 3, 2026

She had come to believe the best place to keep the spotlight on her mother’s case—and the investigators in charge—was at the TV anchor desk at Studio 1A, Rockefeller Plaza.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026

I lean forward and rest my forehead on the edge of the desk and breathe.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

He shows her ideas taking shape at desks where classifications opened or foreclosed futures, within organizations charged with apportioning the remnants of an inheritance among the living.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

“Unfortunately, someone stole a good amount of drives from our office desks this past week,” Sean Berney, a director for original film at Netflix, wrote in a June 25 email, according to the lawsuit.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026

A statement from Easyjet said: "Due to a water supply issue affecting London Gatwick Airport, bag drop desks are temporarily opening two hours before departure instead of three hours."

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

However, compared to a premium of 38%, these are negligible and without unforeseen obstacles, hedge funds and proprietary trading desks will be queuing up to put the trade on.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026

Wooden desks instead of metal and molded plastic.

From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila

Related Words

• counter