desk

/desk/ (bre, ipa) · /desk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdesk/ (ame, mw)

desk — noun

  • desksingular
  • desksplural

1. A flat-topped work surface, often fitted with drawers, where a person sits to st

1.名詞A1
釋義

A flat-topped work surface, often fitted with drawers, where a person sits to study, handle paperwork, or use a computer.

例句

Luca cleared his desk before starting the new project.

possessive + desk for personal workspace

The old oak desk has been in the Watanabe family for three generations.

同義詞
  • table

    general flat surface; used for dining or meetings rather than individual work

  • workbench

    sturdy surface for physical tasks such as woodwork or repairs

  • bureau

    formal, old-fashioned term for a writing desk with drawers and a sloping top

文法句型

[possessive] + desk

at + [possessive] + desk

adjective + desk

常見錯誤

I put the dinner plates on the desk.
I put the dinner plates on the table.
💡desks are designed for working; tables are for dining or general use.

2. A counter or area in a hotel, airport, or other public building where staff prov

2.名詞A2
釋義

A counter or area in a hotel, airport, or other public building where staff provide information, accept payments, or help customers.

例句

The reception desk at the Grand Hotel is open twenty-four hours a day.

the + [service type] + desk for public counters

Sade went to the check-in desk and handed over her passport.

同義詞
  • counter

    a long flat surface in a shop or public building where customers are served

  • service counter

    explicitly emphasizes the function of providing service to customers

  • reception

    the specific area in a hotel or office where guests are greeted and checked in

文法句型

the + [service type] + desk

at the + [service type] + desk

front desk

用法筆記

Commonly preceded by a noun that specifies the kind of service, such as front desk, check-in desk, reception desk, or information desk.

常見錯誤

Please call the front table for help.
Please call the front desk for help.
💡a service counter is called a desk, not a table, even if it looks similar.

3. The section of a newspaper, television station, or radio company that handles ne

3.名詞B2
釋義

The section of a newspaper, television station, or radio company that handles news reporting and editing for a particular subject area.

例句

Sumin works on the sports desk for a national daily newspaper.

the + [subject] + desk for news departments

The foreign desk sent a reporter to cover the election results.

同義詞
  • department

    general term for any division of an organisation, not limited to media

  • bureau

    a regional office of a news organisation, often in a different city or country

  • section

    a subdivision within a newspaper; broader in meaning than desk

文法句型

the + [subject] + desk

on the + [subject] + desk

用法筆記

Only used within media organizations. The name of the specialised area — sports, foreign, city, culture, arts — directly precedes 'desk' without any connecting word.

常見錯誤

I work on the sports table at a newspaper.
I work on the sports desk at a newspaper.
💡media departments are always called desks, not tables.

4. In classical music ensembles, the spot occupied by a pair of musicians performin

4.名詞C1
釋義

In classical music ensembles, the spot occupied by a pair of musicians performing the same instrument, sharing one music stand.

例句

The first violin desk played the melody with precise coordination.

the + [rank] + [instrument] + desk for orchestral hierarchy

Both clarinet players at the same desk turned the page together.

同義詞
  • stand

    short for music stand; informally used to refer to the same shared seating position

  • seating position

    descriptive term for where a musician sits within an orchestral section

文法句型

the + [instrument] + desk

[ordinal] + [instrument] + desk

用法筆記

Almost exclusively used in orchestral contexts. Each desk has a 'principal' or 'first-chair' player on the outside seat who leads the pair. The term does not apply to pianists or harpists, who sit separately.

常見錯誤

The pianist sat at the first desk.
The first violinist sat at the first desk.
💡desk seating in an orchestra applies to string, wind, and brass players, but not to pianists or harpists.