n. A type of small program on Macintosh computers and in windowing programs for IBM and PC-compatible machines that acts as the electronic equivalent of a clock, calendar, calculator, or other small appliance found on a typical desktop. Desk accessories are conveniences that can be activated when needed and then either put away or moved to a small part of the screen. A special type of desk accessory, a control panel, provides the user with the ability to change the date and time as well as to control screen colors, mouse movements, and other parameters. Acronym: DA. Also called: desktop accessory. See also control panel.
