Word
bureau
Phoneticsbu·reau, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈbjʊɹoʊ/
UK/bjˈɔːɹəʊ/
Definitions
01government department
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a government department or a large administrative office.
n. an administrative unit of government or a specialized agency within a larger organization.
“The Federal Bureau of Investigation is responsible for many high-level cases.”
“The national census is managed by a dedicated bureau that operates independently of the central statistical office.”
Usage
Often used in the titles of specific government agencies.
Synonyms
02information office
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. an office or organization that collects and provides specific information.
n. an organization or office established for the purpose of collecting or distributing news or information.
“We visited the local tourist bureau to get a map of the city.”
“The news agency maintains a bureau in every major capital to ensure rapid reporting on international events.”
03writing desk
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun British English
n. a desk with a top that folds down for writing and drawers for storing papers.
n. a writing desk with a hinged lid that opens to provide a writing surface, typically featuring small compartments for stationery.
Español:buró
“He kept all his old letters in the top drawer of his mahogany bureau.”
“The antique bureau featured intricate wood carvings and a secret compartment hidden behind the inkwell shelf.”
Usage
In British English, this specifically refers to a desk; in American English, this usage is rare.
Synonyms
04chest of drawers
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun American English
n. a piece of furniture with drawers used for keeping clothes.
n. a chest of drawers used primarily for the storage of clothing.
Español:cómoda
“She put her clean socks away in the top drawer of the bureau.”
“The bedroom set included a matching bed frame and a tall bureau with polished brass handles.”
Usage
Common in the Northeastern United States; British speakers would call this a 'chest of drawers'.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “bureau” in context.
Noun
01. census bureau
“The census bureau is responsible for collecting data about the country's population every ten years.”
noun + noun
Real-World Examples
“Forecasters at the National Weather Service expected Southern California would experience its "hottest week of summer so far", the bureau said in a recent statement.” “Nearly 270,000 Israelis have left the country over the past three years, the Tel Aviv University study found, drawing on Central Bureau of Statistics data.” Etymology
Unadapted borrowing from French bureau, earlier "coarse cloth (as desk cover), baize", from Old French burel (“woolen cloth”), diminutive of *bure (compare Middle French bure (“coarse woolen cloth”), French bourre (“hair, fluff”)), from Late Latin burra (“wool, fluff, shaggy cloth, coarse fabric”); akin to Ancient Greek βερβέριον (berbérion, “shabby garment”). Doublet of burel and borrel, taken from Old French.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/bureau
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0