Made an application for a different desk (5)
I believe the answer is:
asked
'made an application' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with communicating as well as being past participle verbs.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?
'a different desk' is the wordplay.
'different' is an anagram indicator (letters placed in a different order).
'desk' anagrammed gives 'sked'.
'a'+'sked'='ASKED'
'for' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for asked that I've seen before include "Inquired" , "Requested" , "Questioned" , "Enquired; invited" , "Put a question to" .)