English Reference

Word

desk

US/ˈdɛsk/

UK/dˈɛsk/

Definitions

01furniture

A1 · Beginner Countable noun

n. a piece of furniture like a table, often with drawers, used for reading, writing, or using a computer.

n. a piece of furniture with a flat or sloping surface and typically with drawers, at which one can read, write, or do other work.

“I keep my laptop and a lamp on my desk in the bedroom.”

“The executive requested a larger mahogany desk to accommodate multiple monitors and a dedicated space for physical paperwork.”

Synonyms

worktablebureau

02service counter

A2 · Elementary Countable noun

n. a counter in a public building, like a hotel or airport, where you get information or help.

n. a counter or booth in a public building where specific services or information are provided to customers or travelers.

“Please check in at the front desk when you arrive at the hotel.”

“Upon entering the terminal, passengers should proceed directly to the information desk to confirm their gate assignment.”

03department

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Academic

n. a specific section or department in a large organization, like a newspaper or a bank.

n. a specialized department or section within a larger organization, particularly in journalism or financial services.

“He works for the city desk at the local newspaper.”

“The foreign desk coordinated with several international correspondents to ensure comprehensive coverage of the election results.”

04orchestra station

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Music Technical

n. a shared music stand and seating area for two players in an orchestra.

n. a position in an orchestral string section consisting of a music stand shared by two players.

“She was promoted to the first desk of the violin section.”

“The conductor noticed that the third desk of the cello section was slightly out of sync during the adagio movement.”

Synonyms

05to reject without review

C2 · Proficiency Academic · Formal

v. to reject a piece of writing immediately without sending it to experts for review.

v. to reject a manuscript or article upon initial receipt without sending it out for formal peer review.

“The editor decided to desk the article because it didn't fit the journal's theme.”

“The paper was desk-rejected within forty-eight hours because the methodology failed to meet the publication's rigorous statistical standards.”

Usage

Often used in the compound form 'desk-reject'.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Etymology

From Middle English deske, desque, from Medieval Latin desca, modified from Old Italian desco, from Latin discus. Doublet of dais, disc, discus, dish, disk, and diskos. See also German Tisch, "table".

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

NOUN

desk(A1)

Idioms

This entry

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.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL 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: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
Frequency
Common
Level
A1 · BeginnerOxford
Updated

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