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.

---

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

---

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

Steele is a director of Orbis and a former head of MI6's Russia desk.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

The Senate passed the bill with 86 votes last month, and it now heads to Mr. Trump’s desk.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026

The Senate already passed its own version, S. 1525, which has been sitting at the House desk since Aug. 10.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026

Prior to joining the Journal, she was a reporter for the New York Times's Styles desk, and contributed interior design coverage to the paper's Real Estate desk.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026

He peered through his eyeglasses at the new arrangements of furniture, the decorative gold and red banners, the guestbook, the teacups and egg custards set on a table near his desk.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

At one point, a Greenlandic politician told ProPublica, some schoolchildren were instructed to practice hiding under their desks in case of such an event.

From Salon ● Sep. 16, 2026

With many employees back at their desks, it’s now investors’ turn to start planning their return to beaten-down real estate investment trusts.

From Barron's ● Sep. 15, 2026

Dozens of “staff members” fill rows of desks in the bullpen — some clack away on keyboards, others have phone receivers sandwiched between their head and shoulders while taking notes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

With three empty desks in the classrooms, some parents were reluctant to send their children back for the new school year.

From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026

They heard Pelicarnassus cry out in anger, and two massive thuds as the giant robot pelican suit stepped into the classroom, smashing desks everywhere.

From "Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody" by Patrick Ness

Related Words

• counter