bureau
nounUK /ˈbjʊ.ɹəʊ/ · US /ˈbjʊ.ɹoʊ/
Etymology Unadapted borrowing from French bureau, earlier "coarse cloth (as desk cover), baize", from Old French burel (“woolen cloth”), diminutive of *bure (compare Middle French bure (“coarse woolen cloth”), French bourre (“hair, fluff”)), from Late Latin burra (“wool, fluff, shaggy cloth, coarse fabric”); akin to Ancient Greek βερβέριον (berbérion, “shabby garment”). Doublet of burel and borrel, taken from Old French.
An administrative unit of government; office.
- Ashley Johnson is an energy, trade and economics expert at the National Bureau of Asian Research, based in the United States.2018, VOA Learning English > China's Melting Glacier Brings Visitors, Adds to Climate Concerns:
An organization or office for collecting or providing information or news.
- a news bureau; a travel bureau; a service bureau; an employment bureau; the Citizens Advice Bureau
- Newt Gingrich gives powerful testimony to the appeal of “the last word in content providership” — speakers’ bureaus.2012 May 5, Henry Alford, “Future TED Talks”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 09 May 2012:
An office (room where clerical or professional duties are performed).
- There was an eerie silence in the dorm [... in] the factory. [...] The lamp glowed in his bureau, warm and reassuring and, through the window, I could see his papers strewn across the desk. [...] I called his name again. A movement from his bureau. [...] I banged on his door until it opened a crack[. ...] He pushed me out onto the staircase. "Get out," he screamed. The door to his bureau slammed in my face.2015, Victoria Delderfield, Secret Mother:
- Both my ability to comprehend what is being said [in French] and my ability to fake comprehension have improved expeditiously. Monsieur holds the door open for me as we step inside his bureau. No one looks up as we enter. He offers me a seat, and when I fail to take it he returns to my side of the desk [...].2010, Ellie Nielsen, Buying a Piece of Paris: A Memoir, page 17:
1 more example
- Nick opened the bureau door and told Joan he was going to find Susan. He walked to the cafeteria, but it was empty. He went back to the bureau, and asked Joan to check the restrooms.2015, Dan Riker, The Blue Girl Murders, page 287:
UK A desk, usually with a cover and compartments that are located above the level of the writing surface rather than underneath, and often used for storing papers.
Northeastern, US A chest of drawers for clothes.
- Derived terms
- bu, bu., bureaucrat, bureau de change, bureaugamous, bureausis, credit bureau, extrabureau, International Time Bureau, marriage bureau, multibureau, QSL bureau, subbureau, telebureau
- Related terms
- bureaucracy, bureaucrat, bureaucratic, bureau de change, bureaugamy, bureau-ocracy, bureau plat, burel