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desk

desk

1.0
A piece of furniture with a flat surface for writing or working
  • noun
  • /dɛsk/
translation icon : escritorio
  • He spent hours sitting at his desk, focusing on his writing without any distractions.
  • sit at a desk
  • a desk job
  • the front desk

I'm just kind of working from my desk today editing.

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Examples

  • So I left the work on my desk and never went back to it.

    Academic text (1991)
  • You'd stop by my desk and we would giggle for hours.

  • Like one year I was a front desk agent at a hotel.

  • All right, here is your desk for the day.

  • My whole desk is full of letters from all those groups.

  • I want her desk cleared today.

  • He was right across the desk from you.

  • Mr. Thomas is standing behind the front desk, a rather strained expression on his face.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • While I finished the cookie, I switched on the desk lamp and called my answering service.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • "My kids have their devices on their desks at all times of the day," Newcomb said.

    Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

workstation
vsdesk
15 3.5

A desk area with a computer and tools for one person to work

is a furniture surface for writing, reading, or general manual tasks
secretary
vsdesk
  • Archaic
9 7.2

A desk with a top that folds down and drawers for papers

is used more broadly and lacks the hinged surface and upper shelves
writing desk
vsdesk
3 2.3

A desk with a flat surface and small drawers for writing by hand

is broader, used for any writing, reading, or general work
writing table
vsdesk
1 3.3

A desk with a flat top used for writing and often with drawers

is similar but may have a sloped surface for reading
reading desk
vsdesk
3.5

A stand with a slanted top that holds a book at a good height for reading or giving a talk

is broader, used for many tasks rather than mainly holding books

Compounds

14 2.1

A person who works at a hotel's front desk and helps guests with check-ins and questions

A counter near the entrance where staff greet and help visitors

A police officer who manages the front desk and daily work in a station

3 2.3

A desk with a flat surface and small drawers for writing by hand

help desk
  • Specialized
3 3.0

A service that gives information and technical help to computer users

city desk
  • Literature
1 5.3

A team in a newspaper that edits and manages local news

1 4.2

A person in the military or police who does office work

1 4.7

A desk with a curved wooden cover that slides down to close the writing area

sports desk
  • Literature
1 3.2

A part of a newspaper that edits and manages sports news

1 1.7

A telephone that sits on a desk with a handset and buttons

A person at the front desk of a hotel who helps guests

A small dictionary kept on a desk for quick word checks

A stand with a slanted top that holds a book at a good height for reading or giving a talk

How Useful

workbench
18 3.2
desk
1.0
table
1.0
stand
322 2.5
tray
311 1.0

Surface Forms

desk singular
desks plural

Etymology

Desk comes from an old Latin word discus, which meant 'dish' or a flat board and is related to the English word dish. So a desk is like a flat 'dish' or table where you put your books and papers to work on.