bureau
A bureau is an office or department that provides a specific service or handles particular business, often within a government or large organization. It also refers to a piece of furniture with drawers for storing clothes or a desk for writing.
Examples
3 of 5He kept his birth certificate in the top drawer of the antique bureau.
He kept his birth certificate in the top drawer of the antique bureau.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is currently leading the national security inquiry.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is currently leading the national security inquiry.
Just leave those papers on top of the bureau in the hallway.
Just leave those papers on top of the bureau in the hallway.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'bureau' as a 'box'—whether it is a wooden box with drawers for your clothes or a government 'office box' where paperwork is organized.
Quick Quiz
The national ______ of statistics released the latest employment figures to the public this morning.
Correct!
The correct answer is: bureau
Examples
He kept his birth certificate in the top drawer of the antique bureau.
everydayHe kept his birth certificate in the top drawer of the antique bureau.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is currently leading the national security inquiry.
formalThe Federal Bureau of Investigation is currently leading the national security inquiry.
Just leave those papers on top of the bureau in the hallway.
informalJust leave those papers on top of the bureau in the hallway.
The census bureau reported a significant shift in urban population density over the last decade.
academicThe census bureau reported a significant shift in urban population density over the last decade.
Our news bureau in Tokyo provides 24-hour coverage of the Asian financial markets.
businessOur news bureau in Tokyo provides 24-hour coverage of the Asian financial markets.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
bureau de change
currency exchange office
citizens' advice bureau
an organization providing free advice on legal and financial matters
Federal Bureau
a central government department (usually referring to the FBI)
Often Confused With
A burrow is a hole or tunnel dug by a small animal, while a bureau is an office or furniture.
A borough is a town or a district within a city, whereas a bureau is an agency or department.
Usage Notes
In American English, 'bureau' frequently refers to a chest of drawers used for clothing. In British English, it more commonly refers to a writing desk or a government-style office.
Common Mistakes
Learners often struggle with the plural form; while 'bureaus' is common in American English, 'bureaux' is the traditional French-style plural often used in formal British English.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'bureau' as a 'box'—whether it is a wooden box with drawers for your clothes or a government 'office box' where paperwork is organized.
Word Origin
Derived from the French word 'bureau' meaning desk or office, which originally referred to a coarse wool cloth ('burel') used to cover writing tables.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
The term 'Bureau de Change' is internationally recognized across Europe and major travel hubs for currency exchange services.
Quick Quiz
The national ______ of statistics released the latest employment figures to the public this morning.
Correct!
The correct answer is: bureau
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Related Words
to
A1Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.
and
A1A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.
a
A1A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.
that
A1This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.
I
A1The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.
for
A1Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.
not
A1A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.
with
A1A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.
he
A1A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.
you
A1Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.
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