desktop

1 of 2

noun

desk·​top ˈdesk-ˌtäp How to pronounce desktop (audio)
1
: the top surface of a desk
also : an area or window on a computer screen in which icons are arranged in a manner analogous to objects on top of a desk
2
: a desktop computer

desktop

2 of 2

adjective

: of a size that can be conveniently used on a desk or table
desktop computers
compare laptop see also desktop publishing

Examples of desktop in a Sentence

Noun The desktop was covered with books and stacks of papers. He created a new folder on his desktop. Adjective She is working on a desktop video project.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The platform this year is making Wrapped available via desktop and mobile, also at Spotify.com/Wrapped. Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 29 Nov. 2023 Another user posted to the support forum that the issue appeared to be with desktop Google Drive client not uploading data to the cloud at all and then the local profile being reset for an as-yet unknown reason. Davey Winder, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023 This will request the desktop version of the site for this session. Justin Pot, WIRED, 24 Nov. 2023 Updating a Sonos mobile or desktop app and then checking for system updates should push the changes to Sonos speakers. Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 16 Nov. 2023 The share of Russian desktop computers using the Microsoft Windows operating system was 94.8 percent, with Mac OS accounting for another 3.7 percent. Foreign Affairs, 3 Nov. 2023 Following several months of testing, Leo is now available to use for free by all Brave desktop users running version 1.60 of the web browser. Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 2 Nov. 2023 These users can access some AI functions via the version of Copilot that's built into Microsoft Edge, but Edge only accounts for around 10 percent of all desktop browsing in the US. Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 16 Nov. 2023 Buy Apple imac m3 Now at Best Buy For 2023, the all-in-one desktop comes with Apple’s new chipset M3 with three variations, which the company says is twice as fast as the M1 chip and up to four times faster the Intel Core i7 processor. Rudie Obias, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Nov. 2023
Adjective
According to information Adobe shared with The Verge, Photoshop on the web is launching with the popular Generative Fill and Generative Expand tools that were recently released for the desktop version of Photoshop. Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 27 Sep. 2023 Meta employees have for weeks teased that a desktop version of Threads was in the works and being tested internally. Clare Duffy, CNN, 22 Aug. 2023 The work is displayed on iPads, which capture news footage on a desktop computer monitor. Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2023 This autumn sees both companies releasing new ranges of processors designed to do one thing - take the desktop performance crown and appeal to gamers, content creators and PC enthusiasts. Antony Leather, Forbes, 31 July 2022 Write your number one goal on your bathroom mirror, make a desktop background of your roadmap to success. Jodie Cook, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2023 The original 1960s series inspired early designs for everything from desktop computers to cellphones to Zoom. Eric Adelson, Washington Post, 11 Jan. 2023 Aboard the International Space Station (ISS) right now is a metal box, the size of a desktop PC tower. Rahul Rao, Popular Science, 3 Jan. 2023 The checkmark remained on the desktop version of the site, but not on the app. Matthew Vantryon, USA TODAY, 10 Nov. 2022 See More

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

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1925, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1958, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of desktop was in 1925

Dictionary Entries Near desktop

Cite this Entry

“Desktop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desktop. Accessed 8 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

desktop

1 of 2 noun
desk·​top ˈdesk-ˌtäp How to pronounce desktop (audio)
1
a
: the top of a desk
b
: an area on a computer screen in which items are arranged as if on top of a desk
2
: a desktop computer

desktop

2 of 2 adjective
: of a size that is suitable for use on a desk or table
a desktop computer

More from Merriam-Webster on desktop

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