bureau

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   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.

2. 2
   noun

   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

3. 3
   noun

   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.

4. 4
   noun

   furniture with drawers for keeping clothes

5. 5
   noun

   an administrative unit of government

6. 6
   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.

7. 7
   noun

   A chest of drawers for clothes.

8. 8
   name

   A surname from French.

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.