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desk

noun · verb

Simple meaning

A table, frame.

Pronunciation

Say it like this:

dehsk
US device voice
IPA pronunciation (US)

ˈdɛsk

This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.

IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.

Word Review

Definition

Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.

noun

  1. A table, frame, or case, in past centuries usually with a sloping top but now usually with a flat top, for the use of writers and readers. It often has a drawer or repository underneath.

  2. A department tasked with a particular topic or focus in certain types of businesses, such as newspapers and financial trading firms.

  3. A reading table or lectern to support the book from which the liturgical service is read, differing from the pulpit from which the sermon is preached; also (especially in the United States), a pulpit. Hence, used symbolically for the clerical profession.

  4. A station for a string player in an orchestra, consisting of a chair and a music stand, or a row of such stations.

verb

  1. transitive

    To equip with a desk or desks.

  2. transitive

    To shut up, as in a desk; to treasure.

Word at a Glance

Difficulty
A1 · Beginner (estimated)
Frequency
Common
Typical Use
General English

Word Aura™

How this word commonly comes across.

Aura for this meaning

This meaning: A table, frame, or case, in past centuries usually with a sloping top but now usually with a flat top, for the use of writers and readers. It often has a drawer or repository underneath.

Used this way, desk is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.

Emotional tone
Neutral
Formality
Neutral
Intensity
Not strongly marked
How common
Moderately common
Connotation
Matter-of-fact
Usage feel
Neutral and straightforward

Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.

More ways to use desk

  • “I left my keys on the desk in the living room this morning.”noun

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Common Patterns and Combinations

How this word naturally appears with others.

Reading

help deskdesk clerk

Furniture

writing deskdesk drawer

Other combinations

front deskreception deskdesk chairinformation desk

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Word Family

Related forms, grouped by how they connect.

Compound terms

Established multiword terms.

  • desk dictionarynounCompound term

    An abridged dictionary of a size convenient to hold in the hand.

  • desk officernounCompound term

    A military officer who is not assigned to active duty.

  • desk phonenounCompound term

    A telephone set that sits on a desk or table.

  • desk sergeantnounCompound term

    The police sergeant on duty in a police station.

  • desk clerknounCompound term

    A hotel receptionist.

  • help desknounCompound term

    A service that provides information and assistance to the users of a computer network.

Related words

Connected by subject or meaning, not by word formation.

  • desktopnounRelated term

    The top of a desk.

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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.