Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Wiktionary
n. A computer of a size designed to be used on a desk or table, as opposed to larger machines, such as mainframes, and smaller machines, such as laptops and palmtops.
WordNet
n. a personal computer small enough to fit conveniently in an individual workspace
Wikipedia
framed|right|A stylized illustration of a personal computer, consisting of a case (containing the motherboard and processor), a monitor, a keyboard and a mouse
A desktop computer is a personal computer designed for regular use at a single location on or near a desk or table due to its size and power requirements. The most common configuration has a case that houses the power supply, motherboard (a printed circuit board with a microprocessor as the central processing unit (CPU), memory, bus, and other electronic component's), disk storage (usually one or more hard disk drives, optical disc drives, and in early models floppy disk drives); a keyboard and mouse for input; and computer monitor and printer for output. The case may be oriented horizontally and placed atop a desk or vertically and placed underneath or beside a desk.
An all-in-one desktop computer typically combines the case and monitor in one unit.
Usage examples of "desktop computer".
He accessed his desktop computer and called up some visual imagery.
He reached the infirmary and, sliding its door shut, groped around his desk to his chair and reached for his desktop computer as he sat down.
This the sailor did, donning headphones and lighting up the word-processing program on his desktop computer.
The Colonel had a standard-issue desktop computer, but no less than four televi- sion sets bunched side by side against the wall opposite the desk.
The program's full-option setup on his desktop computer would have let him scan many times that number, and Lathrop knew he could have accessed its database resources over his wireless network connection.
Through a half-open door she saw a desktop computer, its screen saver showing some old master's painting of a nude woman.
She set the raktajino beside the desktop computer interface and sat down, brushing the tips of her fingers along her lobe as she did so.
La Forge agreed, already tapping his desktop computer to access the inventory.
Tomorrow I will program my desktop computer to remind me of every one of our anniversaries, monthly or otherwise, until the year 2050.
Two more HSS men were at the desktop computer, trying to determine what was causing the alarm signal when all the life support systems were solidly in the green.
She huffed at him, then reached out and flicked on her desktop computer.