desk

noun

1
a
: a table, frame, or case with a sloping or horizontal surface especially for writing and reading and often with drawers, compartments, and pigeonholes
b
: a reading table or lectern from which a liturgical service is read
c
: a table, counter, stand, or booth at which a person works
2
a
: a division of an organization specializing in a particular phase of activity
the Russian desk in the Department of State
b
: a seating position according to rank in an orchestra
a first-desk violinist

Examples of desk in a Sentence

an information desk at an airport We will ask for directions to the restaurant at the front desk. We went to the reception desk to check into our room.
Recent Examples on the Web Reading stuff that was on my desk, looking at bills, looking in my closet. Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 7 Mar. 2024 House Bill 1199 will now head to Gov. Eric Holcomb's desk. The Indianapolis Star, 7 Mar. 2024 During debates before the bill was sent to Ivey’s desk, Alabama lawmakers acknowledged that even with the protective legislation, the state still had questions to contend with, including about personhood and when life begins. Praveena Somasundaram, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2024 The idea of third places as potential work environments became popular as the pandemic dragged on, when desk workers searched for a middle ground between being cooped up at home all day, and returning to offices that no longer felt relevant. Trey Williams, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2024 Who hasn’t attributed the occasional pang or jab to sleeping in a weird position, slouching at a desk for eight hours, or lurching to grab something off the floor in a slightly wonky way? Sarah Klein, SELF, 5 Mar. 2024 Oregon’s landmark right-to-repair law is nearly here — today, SB 1596 passed the Oregon legislature, and is headed to Governor Tina Kotek’s desk to sign or veto within the next five days. Sean Hollister, The Verge, 5 Mar. 2024 Carrillo acknowledged the budget situation, saying his goal is bring the bill to Newsom’s desk once again. Mathew Miranda, Sacramento Bee, 1 Mar. 2024 Lolly Lolly Ceramics The coffee mug is a staple on every late night show desk, but The Daily Show with Trevor Noah's is about to become a whole lot more iconic. Hannah Chubb, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'desk.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English deske, dext "reading desk, lectern," borrowed from Medieval Latin descus, desca, variant of discus "raised table, platform," going back to Latin, "discus, kind of plate, gong," borrowed from Greek dískos "discus," in Late Greek also "dish, round mirror, the sun's disk, gong" — more at discus

Note: The e in the British Medieval Latin forms (and subsequent borrowing into Middle English) appears to show influence of the Romance outcome of discus, for which see the note at dish entry 1. The sense "reading desk," presumably originating in monastic usage, is not limited to Britain—compare discus in Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch, which records the meaning in central Europe.

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of desk was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near desk

Cite this Entry

“Desk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desk. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

desk

noun
1
a
: a table, frame, or case with a flat or sloping surface especially for writing and reading
b
: a counter at which a person works
2
a
: a specialized division of an organization (as a newspaper)
city desk
b
: a seating position according to rank in an orchestra

More from Merriam-Webster on desk

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!