desktop

noun desk·top \ ˈdesk-ˌtäp \

|Updated on: 17 Jun 2018

Definition of desktop

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

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Examples of desktop in a Sentence

The desktop was covered with books and stacks of papers.
He created a new folder on his desktop.

Recent Examples of desktop from the Web

The past three days have highlighted the potential perils that await people who rely on desktop computers to send encrypted messages.

— dan goodin, Ars Technica, "It has been a bad week for encrypted messaging and it’s only Wednesday," 16 May 2018
Google just released Chrome 67 for desktop, as spotted by ZDNet.

— shannon liao, The Verge, "Google Chrome now lets you sign in to most services without a password," 30 May 2018
Someone stole a desktop computer valued at $300 from the emergency room at West Suburban Hospital, 3 Erie Court, between 9 a.m. March 3 and 9 a.m. May 15.

— pioneer press, chicagotribune.com, "Police: Three men steal cellphones from downtown Oak Park store," 25 May 2018
Baldet’s product ideas include a browserlike tool for desktops to help users plug into competing blockchains and play with decentralized apps, in order to experiment with the latest innovations.

— robert hackett, Fortune, "How JPMorgan Chase Learned to Love the Blockchain," 24 May 2018
On desktop computers, four players are gaming; one is doing his math homework.

— alexandra lange, Curbed, "Young adult architecture," 24 May 2018
Similarly, a desktop computer will draw more power from the wall, both to power the processor and to run fans to prevent the machine from overheating.

— richard enbody, Scientific American, "Cryptojacking Spreads Across the Web," 9 May 2018
Along with the movie’s Checker cabs, rotary phones, outsized answering machines and clunky desktop computers, these mean streets have a Pompeian quality, relics of the past.

— New York Times, "The Late, Late Show With Martin Scorsese," 9 May 2018
Walking through the front door, customers will immediately see several cameras lying on desktops.

— forrest sellers, Cincinnati.com, "Mt. Lookout photo studio captures 30 years of images," 31 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'desktop.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of desktop

1925

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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desktop

adjective

Definition of desktop

: of a size that can be conveniently used on a desk or table

desktop computers

— compare laptop — see also desktop publishing

See desktop defined for English-language learners

Examples of desktop in a Sentence

She is working on a desktop video project.

Recent Examples of desktop from the Web

The new rule does, however, allow for what are known as remote mirroring apps, like Steam Link, to contain an app store so long as purchases through that app store are processed on the desktop PC, and not on the iPhone or iPad itself.

— nick statt, The Verge, "Apple revises App Store rules after rejecting Valve’s game streaming Steam Link app," 5 June 2018
Apple competitor Microsoft began the process of merging its tablet and desktop software long ago—a process that is mostly complete.

— samuel axon, Ars Technica, "Tim Cook on merging macOS and iOS: “I don’t think that’s what users want”," 19 Apr. 2018
Apple isn’t going there, either, but a few competing Android manufacturers are combining the mobile and desktop worlds.

— david pierce, WSJ, "Your Smartphone Is the Best Computer You Own," 23 May 2018
Customers enjoy mobile and desktop access to online banking through the bank’s website portal and mobile apps.

— Houston Chronicle, "Houston bank puts its money where its mouth is," 18 May 2018
But those who use its desktop client with the default settings may have inadvertently stored those messages indefinitely on their Mac's notification bar, even if they had been set to self-destruct.

— brian barrett, WIRED, "Security News This Week: The Hidden Commands Only Alexa Can Year," 12 May 2018
The latter families, which include both mobile and desktop chips, began shipping in 2010 as well.

— mark hachman, PCWorld, "Intel issues Meltdown/Spectre fixes for Ivy Bridge, Sandy Bridge as patch effort winds down," 9 Mar. 2018
Courier Journal led all competitors on the key audience measures of both mobile and desktop audience, and increased its mobile unique visitors by 59 percent and page views by 43 percent year over year.

— thomas novelly, The Courier-Journal, "Courier Journal leads all local competitors in digital for 8th straight month," 12 May 2018
The team obtained screenshots from Google’s Android Messages app showing a desktop client, and while Google has not yet confirmed the news these screenshots all but confirm that desktop integration is coming to the app.

— avery thompson, Popular Mechanics, "One of the iPhone's Best Features Is Coming to Android," 13 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of desktop

1958

in the meaning defined above

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NEW! Time Traveler

DESKTOP Defined for English Language Learners

desktop

noun

Definition of desktop for English Language Learners

: the top surface of a desk
: a computer that is designed to be used on a desk or table : a desktop computer
: an area or window on a computer screen in which small pictures (called icons) are arranged like objects on top of a desk