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

• desktops
  plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• desktops
  plural

Etymology

Origin of desktop

First recorded in 1925–30; desk + top ¹

Explanation

A desktop is the surface of a desk, the part you use for writing or resting your laptop on. Particularly tidy people might need to clean the entire desktop before getting any work done. Your literal desktop — the top or surface of your desk — inspired the name for your computer desktop, the home screen on which you organize icons representing your files. When you're using a computer, you generally start from your desktop, opening windows or clicking on a file. When desktop is used as an adjective, it typically means "meant to be kept and used on your desk," like a desktop computer or a desktop scanner.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

desktop desktops

Previous generations of the desktop machines faced supply shortages due to a global memory-chip shortage and high demand from AI users.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026

Apple is releasing new, higher-priced models of its Mac Mini and Mac Studio desktop machines featuring faster chips for AI.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026

The site, which can be accessed on desktop or as a mobile app, has over 200 million monthly active users, and is popular with gamers.

From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026

The staff member involved has been reprimanded, and the obituary files have been moved off the studio desktop to prevent a repeat incident.

From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026

This stack was almost level with his desktop, and it made a convenient place to rest his coffee cup.

From "The Landry News" by Andrew Clements

The chip shortage is pushing people to buy cheaper laptops than desktops, which can last up to a decade, said Brousse, in Tokyo on his honeymoon.

From Barron's ● Aug. 2, 2026

The Nvidia chip will be released in the fall, and will power desktops from companies including Dell, HP, Lenovo and Microsoft.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 1, 2026

In the 1970s, Banatao joined gatherings of the Homebrew Computer Club, a band of hobbyists and tinkerers that included Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and others who envisioned machines that could perch on desktops.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 15, 2026

Once students started using desktops from prison classrooms, he pre-loaded academic articles onto thumb drives they could explore offline.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2025

Sprawled on the floor, standing around in small groups, or sitting on desktops, they were leafing through old newspapers, looking for the editorial pages.

From "The Landry News" by Andrew Clements