desktop

1 of 2

noun

desk·​top ˈdesk-ˌtäp How to pronounce desktop (audio)
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

desktop

2 of 2

adjective

: 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
Noun
Download TikTok Videos to Your Computer The simplest option for collecting your work is to download the videos from TikTok’s website or desktop app. Boone Ashworth, WIRED, 12 Mar. 2024 The company had already made a mark with the desktop Apple II in 1977. Brian Murphy, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2024 Comprehensive Financial Overview Spatial computing technology is not limited by desktop borders and allows for a multi-modal interaction with banking applications. Alex Kreger, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 The experimental feature is available in the US via the Google app on iOS and Android as well as Chrome desktop, 9to5Google notes. Jon Porter, The Verge, 16 Feb. 2024 His computer’s desktop showed a black-and-white closeup of Diana Ross. Ronan Farrow, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2024 There’s also a USB-A adapter included for desktop computers. Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 One point of reference was just down the road at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center and its in-house Alto computer network, forerunners of the desktop. Brian Murphy, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2024 The business provides software enabling users to access desktops and applications remotely. Bloomberg, Orange County Register, 26 Feb. 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.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1925, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1958, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of desktop was in 1925

Dictionary Entries Near desktop

Cite this Entry

“Desktop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desktop. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

desktop

1 of 2 noun
desk·​top ˈdesk-ˌtäp How to pronounce desktop (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on desktop

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