Bureau - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

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SKIP TO CONTENT bureau /ˈbjuroʊ/ /ˈbjʊərəʊ/ IPA guide

Other forms: bureaus; bureaux

When you put your socks away, you'll most likely put them in a bureau, or a chest of drawers used for storing clothes. Hopefully you've washed them.

A dresser or a chest of drawers can also be called a bureau, a piece of furniture with drawers for storing things. Another meaning of bureau is "an office or government agency." These two definitions seem unrelated, but the original meaning of the French word bureau, "cloth covering for a desk" helps explain. Bureau gradually evolved to mean first just "desk" (and eventually "dresser"), and around 1720 it also started being used to mean a room full of desks, or an office.

Definitions of bureau

noun an administrative unit of government “the Census Bureau” synonyms: agency, authority, federal agency, government agency, office see moresee less examples: show 4 examples... hide 4 examples... Air Force Research Laboratory a United States Air Force defense laboratory responsible for discovering and developing and integrating fighting technologies for aerospace forces Army High Performance Computing Research Center a United States defense laboratory to conduct research in high-performance computing for defense technology applications; a partnership of government and university and industry Naval Research Laboratory the United States Navy's defense laboratory that conducts basic and applied research for the Navy in a variety of scientific and technical disciplines United States Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory a defense laboratory of the Criminal Investigation Command; the United States Army's primary forensic laboratory in support of criminal intelligence types: show 106 types... hide 106 types... executive agency an agency of the executive branch of government FDA, Food and Drug Administration a federal agency in the Department of Health and Human Services established to regulate the release of new foods and health-related products CDC, Center for Disease Control and Prevention a federal agency in the Department of Health and Human Services; located in Atlanta; investigates and diagnoses and tries to control or prevent diseases (especially new and unusual diseases) CTC, Counterterrorist Center an agency that helps the Director of Central Intelligence coordinate counterterrorist efforts in order to preempt and disrupt and defeat terrorist activities at the earliest possible stage NPC, Nonproliferation Center an agency that serves as the focal point for all Intelligence Community activities related to nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their missile delivery systems Bureau of the Census, Census Bureau the bureau of the Commerce Department responsible for taking the census; provides demographic information and analyses about the population of the United States NOAA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration an agency in the Department of Commerce that maps the oceans and conserves their living resources; predicts changes to the earth's environment; provides weather reports and forecasts floods and hurricanes and other natural disasters related to weather NCDC, National Climatic Data Center the part of NOAA that maintains the world's largest active archive of weather data National Weather Service the federal agency in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that is responsible for weather forecast and preparation of weather maps Technology Administration an agency in the Department of Commerce that works with United States industries to promote competitiveness and maximize the impact of technology on economic growth NIST, National Institute of Standards and Technology an agency in the Technology Administration that makes measurements and sets standards as needed by industry or government programs NTIS, National Technical Information Service an agency in the Technology Administration that is a primary resource for government-funded scientific and technical and engineering and business related information DARPA, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency the central research and development organization for the United States Department of Defense; responsible for developing new surveillance technologies since 9/11 Department of Defense Laboratory System, LABLINK a defense laboratory that provides essential services in fundamental science for national security and environmental protection and provides technologies that contribute to industrial competitiveness DOEI, Department of Energy Intelligence an agency that collects political and economic and technical information about energy matters and makes the Department of Energy's technical and analytical expertise available to other members of the Intelligence Community PHS, United States Public Health Service an agency that serves as the office of Surgeon General; includes agencies whose mission is to improve the public health NIH, National Institutes of Health an agency in the Department of Health and Human Services whose mission is to employ science in the pursuit of knowledge to improve human health; is the principal biomedical research agency of the federal government BJA, Bureau of Justice Assistance the bureau in the Department of Justice that assists local criminal justice systems to reduce or prevent crime and violence and drug abuse BJS, Bureau of Justice Statistics the agency in the Department of Justice that is the primary source of criminal justice statistics for federal and local policy makers INS, Immigration and Naturalization Service an agency in the Department of Justice that enforces laws and regulations for the admission of foreign-born persons to the United States US Border Patrol, United States Border Patrol the mobile law enforcement arm of the Immigration and Naturalization Service that detects and prevents illegal entry of aliens into the United States Bureau of Diplomatic Security, DS the bureau in the State Department that is responsible for the security of diplomats and embassies overseas Foreign Service the part of the State Department that supplies diplomats for the United States embassies and consulates around the world Bureau of Intelligence and Research, INR an agency that is the primary source in the State Department for interpretive analyses of global developments and focal point for policy issues and activities of the Intelligence Community FWS, US Fish and Wildlife Service, United States Fish and Wildlife Service an agency in the Department of the Interior that conserves and protects fish and wildlife and their habitats; assesses the environmental impact of pesticides and nuclear power site and hydroelectric dams and thermal pollution National Park Service an agency of the Interior Department responsible for the national parks Financial Management Service the federal agency in the Treasury Department that manages the government's disbursement and collection systems and provides central accounting and financial reporting OIS, Office of Intelligence Support agency that oversees the intelligence relationships of the Treasury's offices and bureaus and provides a link between the Intelligence Community and officials responsible for international economic policy Comptroller of the Currency the agency of the Treasury Department responsible for controlling the currency Bureau of Customs, Customs Bureau, Customs Service, USCB the agency of the Treasury Department that enforces import tariffs Bureau of Engraving and Printing the agency of the Treasury Department that produces currency IRS, Internal Revenue Service the bureau of the Treasury Department responsible for tax collections FAA, Federal Aviation Agency an agency in the Department of Transportation that is responsible for the safety of civilian aviation TSA, Transportation Security Administration an agency established in 2001 to safeguard United States transportation systems and insure safe air travel GAO, Government Accounting Office, United States Government Accounting Office an independent nonpartisan federal agency that acts as the investigative arm of Congress making the executive branch accountable to Congress and the government accountable to citizens of the United States Navy, US Navy, USN, United States Navy the navy of the United States of America; the agency that maintains and trains and equips combat-ready naval forces U. S. Coast Guard, US Coast Guard, United States Coast Guard an agency of the Department of Transportation responsible for patrolling shores and facilitating nautical commerce NAWCWPNS, Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division the principal agency of the United States Navy for research and development for air warfare and missile weapon systems NSW, Naval Special Warfare the agency that provides units to conduct unconventional and counter-guerilla warfare NSWC, Naval Surface Warfare Center the agency that provides scientific and engineering and technical support for all aspects of surface warfare NUWC, Naval Underwater Warfare Center the agency that provides scientific and engineering and technical support for submarine and undersea warfare systems ONI, Office of Naval Intelligence the military intelligence agency that provides for the intelligence and counterintelligence and investigative and security requirements of the United States Navy MCIA, Marine Corps Intelligence Activity an agency of the United States Marine Corps that provides responsive and broad intelligence support for the worldwide Marine Corps organization Air Force, U. S. Air Force, US Air Force, USAF, United States Air Force the airforce of the United States of America; the agency that defends the United States through control and exploitation of air and space AFISR, Air Force ISR, Air Force Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance an agency focused on ensuring that the United States military attains information superiority; operates worldwide ground sites and an array of airborne reconnaissance and surveillance platforms independent agency an agency of the United States government that is created by an act of Congress and is independent of the executive departments ARDA, Advanced Research and Development Activity an agency of the Intelligence Community that conducts advanced research and development related to information technology Defense Logistics Agency a logistics combat support agency in the Department of Defense; provides worldwide support for military missions DRMS, Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service the organization in the Defense Logistics Agency that inventories and evaluates and sells reusable United States government surplus DTIC, Defense Technical Information Center the agency in the Department of Defense that provides scientific and technical information to federal agencies and their contractors law enforcement agency an agency responsible for insuring obedience to the laws OSHA, Occupational Safety and Health Administration a government agency in the Department of Labor to maintain a safe and healthy work environment organ a government agency or instrument devoted to the performance of some specific function Patent Office, Patent and Trademark Office Database the government bureau in the Department of Commerce that keeps a record of patents and trademarks and grants new ones GPO, Government Printing Office, US Government Printing Office, United States Government Printing Office an agency of the legislative branch that provides printing and binding services for Congress and the departments and establishments of the federal government NGB, National Guard Bureau the agency that administers the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard; provides liaison between the Army and the Air Force and various National Guard units Army, U. S. Army, US Army, USA, United States Army the army of the United States of America; the agency that organizes and trains soldiers for land warfare AI, Army Intelligence an agency of the United States Army responsible for providing timely and relevant and accurate and synchronized intelligence to tactical and operational and strategic level commanders BMDO, Ballistic Missile Defense Organization an agency in the Department of Defense that is responsible for making ballistic missile defense a reality DISA, Defense Information Systems Agency a combat support agency in the Department of Defense responsible for developing and operating and supporting information systems to serve the needs of the President and the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff NGA, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency a combat support agency that provides geographic intelligence in support of national security CCRC, Casualty Care Research Center an agency in the Department of Defense that is a national center for research on all aspects of injury control and casualty care FHA, Federal Housing Administration the federal agency in the Department of Housing and Urban Development that insures residential mortgages local authority an administrative unit of local government customs the government agency that oversees and collects duties on imported goods AEC, Atomic Energy Commission a former executive agency (from 1946 to 1974) that was responsible for research into atomic energy and its peacetime uses in the United States NRC, Nuclear Regulatory Commission an independent federal agency created in 1974 to license and regulate nuclear power plants EPA, Environmental Protection Agency an independent federal agency established to coordinate programs aimed at reducing pollution and protecting the environment FEMA, Federal Emergency Management Agency an independent agency of the United States government that provides a single point of accountability for all federal emergency preparedness and mitigation and response activities Council of Economic Advisors an executive agency responsible for providing economic advice to the President CIA, Central Intelligence Agency an independent agency of the United States government responsible for collecting and coordinating intelligence and counterintelligence activities abroad in the national interest; headed by the Director of Central Intelligence under the supervision of the President and National Security Council ICC, Interstate Commerce Commission a former independent federal agency that supervised and set rates for carriers that transported goods and people between states; was terminated in 1995 NASA, National Aeronautics and Space Administration an independent agency of the United States government responsible for aviation and spaceflight NARA, National Archives and Records Administration the independent agency that oversees management of federal government records including presidential libraries and historic collections NLRB, National Labor Relations Board an independent agency of the United States government charged with mediating disputes between management and labor unions NSF, National Science Foundation an independent agency of the federal government responsible for the promotion of progress in science and engineering by supporting programs in research and education Postal Rate Commission an independent federal agency that recommends changes in postal rates US Postal Service, USPS, United States Postal Service an independent federal agency that provides mail processing and delivery service for individuals and businesses in the United States US Postal Inspection Service, United States Postal Inspection Service the primary law enforcement arm of the United States Postal Service NSC, National Security Council a committee in the executive branch of government that advises the president on foreign and military and national security; supervises the Central Intelligence Agency Council on Environmental Policy the executive agency that advises the President on protecting the environment Joint Chiefs, Joint Chiefs of Staff the executive agency that advises the President on military questions; composed of the chiefs of the United States Army and the United States Navy and the United States Air Force and the commandant of the United States Marine Corps OMB, Office of Management and Budget the executive agency that advises the President on the federal budget US Trade Representative, United States Trade Representative the executive agency that administers the President's policies on international trade FCC, Federal Communications Commission an independent government agency that regulates interstate and international communications by radio and television and wire and cable and satellite SSA, Social Security Administration an independent government agency responsible for the Social Security system FBI, Federal Bureau of Investigation a federal law enforcement agency that is the principal investigative arm of the Department of Justice FLETC, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center a center in the Department of that trains law enforcement professionals for more than seventy federal agencies FinCEN, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network a law enforcement agency of the Treasury Department responsible for establishing and implementing policies to detect money laundering ATF, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms the law enforcement and tax collection agency of the Treasury Department that enforces federal laws concerning alcohol and tobacco products and firearms and explosives and arson CID, Criminal Investigation Command the United States Army's principal law enforcement agency responsible for the conduct of criminal investigations for all levels of the Army anywhere in the world DEA, Drug Enforcement Administration, Drug Enforcement Agency federal agency responsible for enforcing laws and regulations governing narcotics and controlled substances; goal is to immobilize drug trafficking organizations BoP, Federal Bureau of Prisons the law enforcement agency of the Justice Department that operates a nationwide system of prisons and detention facilities to incarcerate inmates sentenced to imprisonment for federal crimes Federal Judiciary the judiciary of the United States which is responsible for interpreting and enforcing federal laws NIJ, National Institute of Justice the law enforcement agency that is the research and development branch of the Department of Justice Marshals, US Marshals Service, United States Marshals Service the United States' oldest federal law enforcement agency is responsible today for protecting the Federal Judiciary and transporting federal prisoners and protecting federal witnesses and managing assets seized from criminals and generally ensuring the effective operation of the federal judicial system Bureau of Customs, Customs Bureau, Customs Service, USCB the agency of the Treasury Department that enforces import tariffs PO, Post Office, US Post Office, United States Post Office an independent agency of the federal government responsible for mail delivery (and sometimes telecommunications) between individuals and businesses in the United States constabulary, law, police, police force the force of police and officers FTC, Federal Trade Commission an independent agency of the United States federal government that maintains fair and free competition; enforces federal antitrust laws; educates the public about identity theft OIG, Office of Inspector General the investigative arm of the Federal Trade Commission GSA, General Services Administration a central management agency that sets Federal policy for Federal procurement and real property management and information resources management FPS, Federal Protective Service an agency in the General Services Administration that is a security organization to provide a safe environment where Federal agencies can conduct their business SBA, Small Business Administration an independent agency of the United States government that protects the interests of small businesses and ensures that they receive a fair share of government contracts SSS, Selective Service, Selective Service System an independent federal agency that administers compulsory military service SEC, Securities and Exchange Commission an independent federal agency that oversees the exchange of securities to protect investors type of: administrative body, administrative unit a unit with administrative responsibilities
noun furniture with drawers for keeping clothes synonyms: chest, chest of drawers, dresser see moresee less types: chiffonier, commode a tall elegant chest of drawers highboy, tallboy a tall chest of drawers divided into two sections and supported on four legs lowboy a low chest or table with drawers and supported on four legs type of: article of furniture, furniture, piece of furniture furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy

Pronunciation US /ˈbjuroʊ/ UK /ˈbjʊərəʊ/ Cite this entry Style: MLA

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Copy citation DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘bureau'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback Word Family

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