- the top, or working surface, of a desk
- the background to the icons of a GUI screen display
- a desktop microcomputer
designating or of a piece of equipment, as a microcomputer, designed to be used on a desk or table
desktop
Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fifth Edition Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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"desktop." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 24 May 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Desktop>.
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desktop. (n.d.). Retrieved May 24th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Desktop
desktop
noun
- The top of a desk.
- Computers a. The area of a display screen where images, windows, icons and other graphical items appear.b. A computer that is designed to be used at a desk or table and is not easily moved, in contrast to a laptop or other portable device. Also called desktop computer .
adjective
Designed for use on a desk or table: a desktop telephone.
THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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"desktop." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 24 May 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Desktop>.
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desktop. (n.d.). Retrieved May 24th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Desktop
Noun
(plural desktops)
Adjective
(not comparable)
- Designed for use on a desk or similar piece of furniture.
- (computing) Of an application, converted to be carried out on a personal computer.
English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.
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"desktop." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 24 May 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Desktop>.
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desktop. (n.d.). Retrieved May 24th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Desktop
desktop - Computer Definition
(1) Synonymous with desktop computer. For example, the phrase "the IT department supports 150 desktops" means it is responsible for maintaining 150 user computers. In such cases, laptop computers may be counted as desktop computers.
(2) A prefix attached to the name of many early personal computer categories that performed functions previously available only on larger computers; for example, "desktop publishing" and "desktop mapping." With the advent of smartphones and tablets, "mobile" replaced desktop as the prefix in vogue.
(3) The layout of a graphical user interface (GUI), which simulates a physical desktop by allowing objects to be placed anywhere on its surface. The desktop also includes menus and icons for launching applications and managing the computer. Initially, desktop backgrounds were covered with "wallpaper," which made no sense until you realized that the screen is a vertical wall. The One-Foot Desktop For centuries, people spread out paper documents side-by-side on their desk surfaces for comparison. However, since the advent of personal computers, people have squashed their working space into approximately one and a half square feet. Increasingly, multiple monitors with larger screens begin to emulate a real desktop.
A True Desktop
Having multiple windows on screen at the same time offers the convenience of a real desk. These two 21" flat panels allow four Web pages or four text documents to be viewed at the same time.
Computer Desktop Encyclopedia THIS DEFINITION IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY All other reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher. © 1981-2017 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved.
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"desktop." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 24 May 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Desktop>.
APA Style
desktop. (n.d.). Retrieved May 24th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Desktop
Sentence Examples
- You can get trusted, practical advice on your desktop.
- Whatever your reason for looking at tips for buying a first computer, you'll find terms defined that are easy to understand as well as the information you need to purchase your first computer, whether that's a desktop or a laptop.
- Whether you just love admiring gorgeous swimsuits and in-shape bodies or want to celebrate the start of swimsuit season with something festive and appropriate, you might want to take a peek at bikini desktop wallpapers.
- Sports Illustrated: Easily one of the best options in your search for official SI model desktop gear, this Web site offers a downloaded SI swimsuit calendar that showcases a new model (in a bikini, naturally) every month.
- Choose the form you are interested in, save it to your desktop or print it. You can then use the form as needed. These printables are designed to help you get ahead and stay ahead of your various to do lists.
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