A desk may be requested (5)
I believe the answer is:
asked
'requested' is the definition.
('ask' can be a synonym of 'request')
'a desk may be' is the wordplay.
'may be' indicates anagramming the letters.
'desk' with letters rearranged gives 'sked'.
'a'+'sked'='ASKED'
(Other definitions for asked that I've seen before include "Put a question to" , "Enquired; invited" , "Demanded" , "Questioned" , "Requested" .)