[bu.reau] n, pl bureaus also bu.reaux [F, desk, cloth covering for desks, fr. OF burel woolen cloth, fr. (assumed) OF bure, fr. LL burra shaggy cloth] (1699) 1 a Brit: writing desk; esp: one having drawers and a slant top b: a low chest of drawers for use in a bedroom
2. a: a specialized administrative unit; esp: a subdivision of an executive department of a government b: a branch of a newspaper, newsmagazine, or wire service in an important news center c: a usu. commercial agency that serves as an intermediary esp. for exchanging information or coordinating activities "credit ~"