Meaning & use
research desk
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A staffed counter in a library where visitors can ask for help finding sources and information.
Grammar: Countable: the library has one research desk on each floor.
Patterns
- ask at the research desk
- the research desk at the library
Ask at the research desk if you cannot find the journal.
The librarian at the research desk helped me search the archive.
The research desk closes an hour before the library.
nouncountablebusiness
A team in a newsroom, bank or similar organization whose job is to find facts and analysis for others.
Grammar: Countable and often used with a possessive or company name: the bank's research desk.
Patterns
- the research desk at somewhere
- work on a research desk
The paper's research desk checked every figure before the story ran.
She joined the bank's research desk after graduating.
The research desk sent the editors a brief on the new law.
Word forms
| plural | research desks |
|---|
Common combinations
- ask the research desk
- Ask the research desk for help with archives.
- staff the research desk
- Two librarians staff the research desk.
- the library research desk
- The library research desk answers questions by phone.
- a newsroom research desk
- A newsroom research desk verifies the facts.
- join the research desk
- He joined the research desk in January.
Synonyms and how they differ
- reference desk
- Reference desk is the usual library term in the United States and means nearly the same as the library sense of research desk.
- help desk
- Help desk is general and usually about technical or customer support, not finding sources.
- information desk
- An information desk gives directions and general details, while a research desk helps with deeper searches.
- research team
- Research team names the people and not the place, so it does not suggest a counter or a fixed desk.
Word family
Practice
You cannot find a book in the library catalogue. Where should you go for help?
Choose one answer.
The research desk is staffed by people who help with finding sources. The other places do not deal with search help.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “research desk”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.