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3 N‑UNCOUNT Desire for someone is a strong feeling of wanting to have sex with them. □  Teenage sex, for instance, may come not out of genuine desire but from a need to get love.

4 PHRASE If you say that something leaves a lot to be desired , you mean that it is not as good as it should be. [DISAPPROVAL ] □  The selection of programmes leaves a lot to be desired.

de|sir|ous /d I za I ə rəs/ ADJ If you are desirous of doing something or desirous of something, you want to do it very much or want it very much. [FORMAL ] □  The enemy is so desirous of peace that he will agree to any terms.

de|sist /d I z I st/ (desists , desisting , desisted ) VERB If you desist from doing something, you stop doing it. [FORMAL ] □ [V + from ] Ford never desisted from trying to persuade him to return to America.

desk ◆◆◇ /de sk/ (desks )

1 N‑COUNT A desk is a table, often with drawers, which you sit at to write or work.

2 N‑SING [oft n N ] The place in a hotel, hospital, airport, or other building where you check in or obtain information is referred to as a particular desk . □  I spoke to the girl on the reception desk.

3 N‑SING [oft n N ] A particular department of a broadcasting company, or of a newspaper or magazine company, can be referred to as a particular desk . □  Over now to Simon Ingram at the sports desk.

de sk clerk (desk clerks ) N‑COUNT A desk clerk is someone who works at the main desk in a hotel. [AM ] in BRIT, use receptionist

de|skill /diːsk I l/ (deskills , deskilling , deskilled ) VERB [oft passive] If workers are deskilled , they no longer need special skills to do their work, especially because of modern methods of production. □ [be V -ed] Administrative staff may be deskilled through increased automation and efficiency.

desk|top /de sktɒp/ (desktops ) also desk-top

1 ADJ [ADJ n] Desktop computers are a convenient size for using on a desk or table, but are not designed to be portable. □  You can watch it on your phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer.

2 N‑COUNT A desktop is a desktop computer.

3 N‑COUNT The desktop of a computer is the display of icons that you see on the screen when the computer is ready to use.

de sk|top pu b|lish|ing N‑UNCOUNT Desktop publishing is the production of printed materials such as newspapers and magazines using a desktop computer and a laser printer, rather than using conventional printing methods. The abbreviation DTP is also used.

deso|late /de sələt/

1 ADJ A desolate place is empty of people and lacking in comfort. □  …a desolate landscape of flat green fields broken by marsh.

2 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If someone is desolate , they feel very sad, alone, and without hope. [LITERARY ] □  He was desolate without her.

deso|la|tion /de səle I ʃ ^ə n/

1 N‑UNCOUNT Desolation is a feeling of great unhappiness and hopelessness. □  The sense of loss and desolation we feel at her death is beyond description.

2 N‑UNCOUNT If you refer to desolation in a place, you mean that it is empty and frightening, for example because it has been destroyed by a violent force or army. [DISAPPROVAL ] □  We looked out upon a scene of desolation and ruin.

des|pair /d I speə ^r / (despairs , despairing , despaired )

1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft in N ] Despair is the feeling that everything is wrong and that nothing will improve. □  I looked at my wife in despair. □  …feelings of despair or inadequacy.

2 VERB If you despair , you feel that everything is wrong and that nothing will improve. □ [V ] 'Oh, I despair sometimes,' he says in mock sorrow. □ [V + at ] He does despair at much of the press criticism.