desk

noun

ˈdesk 

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

Synonyms

• agency
• arm
• branch
• bureau
• department
• division
• office
• service

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

Matt Zoller Seitz took a slightly different tack, addressing France directly from his desk at RogerEbert.com and begging Cannes Film Festival participants to cheer the film and save the US from itself. —Angela Watercutter, WIRED, 12 Apr. 2024

If your graduate is starting a new remote job and has an adjustable desk on their wishlist, this could be the perfect gift. $179.99 Amazon Shop Now Brilliant Earth 6.5 In. —Claire Peltier, ABC News, 12 Apr. 2024

Last week, the measure was sent to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s desk with bipartisan support – flipping 11 Democratic senators and nine House Democrats. —Jenna Barackman, Kansas City Star, 11 Apr. 2024

Senate Bill 1638, which passed both chambers of the Florida Legislature unanimously before landing on DeSantis’ desk, establishes how to use those kickbacks to benefit the state’s natural resources. —Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 11 Apr. 2024

When one man threatens suicide if he’s not allotted more seats, the Captain offers him a gun and steps out of the room to give him privacy; after a few moments’ thought, the guy leaves the pistol alone and instead steals all the candy from the Captain’s desk. —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2024

In video released June 20, Rodriguez is seen seated at a desk with a computer in the city lockup. —Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 10 Apr. 2024

There is an apocryphal story that as the book landed on desks around Hollywood, everyone flipped to the index to see what Phillips had written about them. —Carolyn Kellogg, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024

Staley highlighted the significance of having five Black women at the desk for the biggest games in college basketball history, emphasizing their contributions to the sport and their ability to elevate it to new heights. —Melissa Noel, Essence, 8 Apr. 2024

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

Phrases Containing desk

• cash desk
• desk jockey
• front desk
• desk job
• city desk
• help desk
• partners desk
• reading desk
• news desk
• writing desk
• rolltop desk

Kids Definition

desk

noun

ˈdesk 

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