Meaning & use

desktop

noun·Everyday

The screen and background area of a computer's graphical interface where icons, files, and windows are displayed.

See it in a sentence

She dragged the file icon across the desktop and dropped it into the folder.

He keeps only a few shortcuts on his desktop to avoid clutter.

A note on using this word

Desktop can also refer to a stationary desktop computer, as opposed to a portable laptop or mobile device.

Words with a similar meaning

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Another way to use it

2. noun

A personal computer designed to sit permanently on or under a desk, rather than a portable laptop.

They replaced the old desktop with a smaller, quieter model last year.

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