desk·top
ˈdesk-ˌtäp 
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
: 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
Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024
To create his images, Fridge used a desktop lamp for the sun, an opaque disc for the moon, and a little motor pulling the disc on a string for the gravitational pull that steers the moon around the sun.
—Elissaveta M. Brandon, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
Website Experience Finally, the buying experience on desktop, tablet, and mobile is vital to understanding how much is invested in the customer, product, and brand.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
According to YouTuber Moore's Law is Dead, Arrow Lake could be between 25-35 percent faster than its 14th gen desktop models.
—Antony Leather, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
Access streamlines database management and creation, whereas Publisher allows for the production of high-quality desktop publications.
—Stack Commerce, Popular Science, 27 Mar. 2024
With Bitdefender, the hardened desktop comes with a hardened browser based on Chrome.
—PCMAG, 26 Mar. 2024
The upheaval depressed demand for desktop and laptop computers, a market that had been one of HP’s financial cornerstones.
—Michael Liedtke, Fortune, 18 Mar. 2024
Both are Editors' Choice winners for desktop operating systems.
—PCMAG, 22 Mar. 2024
PCMAG, 6 Feb. 2024
Making matters worse, fewer people have this hardware due to the general shift from desktop computers to laptops.
—Andy Patrizio, Ars Technica, 11 July 2023
And there's a workaround, of sorts: requesting the desktop version of a site.
—Justin Pot, WIRED, 24 Nov. 2023
The keynote presentation, which showed everything from desktop productivity apps to dinosaurs circling a Vision Pro user in space, seemed impressive, but augmented reality promotional videos often do.
—Samuel Axon, Ars Technica, 6 June 2023
However, O’Leary said this ignored that most of the airline’s bookings come from desktop computers, Reuters reported.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 22 Nov. 2023
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
Noun
With desktop applications on Mac, Windows, and Linux, mobile capabilities for workers using iOS and Android devices, and browser extensions, time tracking has never been easier.
—Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024
To create his images, Fridge used a desktop lamp for the sun, an opaque disc for the moon, and a little motor pulling the disc on a string for the gravitational pull that steers the moon around the sun.
—Elissaveta M. Brandon, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
Website Experience Finally, the buying experience on desktop, tablet, and mobile is vital to understanding how much is invested in the customer, product, and brand.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
According to YouTuber Moore's Law is Dead, Arrow Lake could be between 25-35 percent faster than its 14th gen desktop models.
—Antony Leather, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
Access streamlines database management and creation, whereas Publisher allows for the production of high-quality desktop publications.
—Stack Commerce, Popular Science, 27 Mar. 2024
With Bitdefender, the hardened desktop comes with a hardened browser based on Chrome.
—PCMAG, 26 Mar. 2024
The upheaval depressed demand for desktop and laptop computers, a market that had been one of HP’s financial cornerstones.
—Michael Liedtke, Fortune, 18 Mar. 2024
Both are Editors' Choice winners for desktop operating systems.
—PCMAG, 22 Mar. 2024
Adjective
There are also desktop clients for Linux, Mac, and Windows, plus apps for Android and iOS.
—PCMAG, 6 Feb. 2024
Making matters worse, fewer people have this hardware due to the general shift from desktop computers to laptops.
—Andy Patrizio, Ars Technica, 11 July 2023
And there's a workaround, of sorts: requesting the desktop version of a site.
—Justin Pot, WIRED, 24 Nov. 2023
The keynote presentation, which showed everything from desktop productivity apps to dinosaurs circling a Vision Pro user in space, seemed impressive, but augmented reality promotional videos often do.
—Samuel Axon, Ars Technica, 6 June 2023
However, O’Leary said this ignored that most of the airline’s bookings come from desktop computers, Reuters reported.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 22 Nov. 2023
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
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.
Dictionary Entries Near desktop
Cite this Entry
“Desktop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desktop. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
desktop
1 of 2 noun
desk·top
ˈdesk-ˌtäp
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
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