desktop

American  

[desk-top] / ˈdɛskˌtɒp /

adjective

1. small or compact enough to fit or be used on a desk.

   a desktop calendar.

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noun

1. the surface of a desk.

2. Computers.

   1. Also called desktop computer.  a computer that is not portable, often consisting of a CPU, monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

   2. the primary display screen of a graphical user interface, on which various icons represent files, groups of files, programs, or the like, which can be moved, accessed, added to, put away, or thrown away in ways analogous to the handling of file folders, documents, notes, etc., on a real desk.

desktop British  

/ ˈdɛskˌtɒp /

noun

1. the main screen display on a personal computer, from which windows may be opened and programs run

2. (modifier) denoting a computer system, esp for word processing, that is small enough to use at a desk

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Etymology

Origin of desktop

First recorded in 1925–30; desk + top ¹

Example Sentences

He stood carefully on the chair after it stopped twirling, and slithered across the big desktop on his tummy until he reached what he wanted.

From Literature

The technologies at the root of the selloff all are part of Claude Cowork, a desktop agent that for now is only available on Mac computers.

From Barron's

Designed to keep desktop PCs going briefly after an outage occurs, these extra-chunky power strips can keep a modem running for hours.

From The Wall Street Journal

Most people get put on the networks by installing mobile games or desktop software that has secretly included the residential proxy code, Kilmer said.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Oh, a laptop. Yeah. Well, we need something to handle all the software for our reservation system. It’s easier with a desktop.”

From Literature