# desktop

Pronunciation: say "DESK-top" US /ˈdɛskˌtɑp/, UK /ˈdɛsktɒp/, AUS /ˈdeskˌtɔp/

## Noun

1. A computer built to sit on or beside a desk in a fixed location, rather than be carried.
   - Simple: A computer that stays in one place on a desk, instead of being carried around.
   - _She replaced her aging desktop with a faster model last spring._
   - _Many gamers prefer a desktop because it is easier to upgrade._
2. The main graphical interface of an operating system, usually showing icons, windows, and a background image.
   - Simple: The main screen of a computer where you see icons, open windows, and a background picture.
   - _She arranged her project folders neatly across the desktop._
   - _A cluttered desktop full of icons can slow down your workflow._
3. The flat upper working surface of a desk, where items are placed or written on.
   - Simple: The flat upper surface of a desk, where you write or put things.
   - _He cleared the desktop before laying out the blueprints._
   - _The polished wooden desktop showed every fingerprint._
6. A personal computer for individual use, rather than one built for business or server roles.
   - Simple: A computer made for one person to use at home, not a big business or server machine.
   - _For ordinary home tasks, a desktop is far cheaper than enterprise hardware._
   - _She chose a desktop over a server because she only needed it for personal projects._
7. The background image displayed behind the icons and windows of the main computer interface.
   - Simple: The background picture shown behind the icons on a computer's main screen.
   - _He picked a calming forest scene for his desktop._
   - _Every Monday she swaps her desktop for a fresh photograph._

## Adjective

4. Of an app or website, made to run or be viewed on a personal computer rather than a mobile device.
   - Simple: Made to run or be viewed on a computer rather than a phone or tablet.
   - _Designers built a desktop layout with wider menus and a sidebar._
   - _The desktop site loads more tools than its mobile counterpart._
5. Made to be used on top of a desk or similar piece of furniture.
   - Simple: Made to be used on a desk or a table.
   - _A desktop fan kept the cluttered workspace cool._
   - _He prefers a desktop calendar to a wall-mounted one._

## Origin

Formed from the words "desk" and "top."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/desktop (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).