bureau
UK: ˈbjʊə.rəʊ | US: ˈbjʊr.oʊ
n. a writing desk with drawers and typically an angled top opening downward to form a writing surface
n. an office or department for transacting particular business (e.g., travel bureau)
n. (chiefly US) a government department or subdivision
The word "bureau" originated from French, where it initially referred to a "woolen cloth" (from Old French burel), later evolving to denote a "desk covered with such cloth." By the 17th century, it expanded to mean "office" or "department," reflecting the furniture's association with administrative work. The morpheme bure traces back to Latin burra (coarse wool), while -au is a French diminutive suffix.
She placed the documents in the top drawer of the bureau.
The tourist bureau provided maps of the city.
He works at the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The antique bureau was crafted from oak.
The bureau chief announced new policies.