bureau
/ˈbjʊ.ɹoʊ/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: 4.41 in modern English
8
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
An administrative unit of government; office.
noun
An organization or office for collecting or providing information or news.
noun
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.
British usage
name
A surname from French.
Example Sentences
- "Ashley Johnson is an energy, trade and economics expert at the National Bureau of Asian Research, based in the United States."
- "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."
- "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."
- "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 [...]."
- "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."
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *péh₂wr̥ Proto-Hellenic *pāwər Ancient Greek πῦρ (pûr) Proto-Indo-European *-rós Proto-Hellenic *-rós Ancient Greek -ρός (-rós) Ancient Greek πῠρρός (pŭrrhós)bor. Latin burrus Latin burra Old French *bure Proto-Indo-European *-lós Proto-Indo-European *-elós Proto-Italic *-elos Latin -lus Latin -ellus Old French -el Old French burel French bureauubor. English bureau 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.
Origin
- Source language: Old French
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈbjʊ.ɹoʊ/
- British English: /ˈbjʊ.ɹəʊ/