Definition of Focus

1. Noun. The concentration of attention or energy on something. "He had no direction in his life"

Exact synonyms: Centering, Direction, Focal Point, Focusing, Focussing
Generic synonyms: Absorption, Concentration, Engrossment, Immersion
Specialized synonyms: Particularism
Derivative terms: Center, Center

2. Verb. Direct one's attention on something. "Please focus on your studies and not on your hobbies"
Exact synonyms: Center, Centre, Concentrate, Pore, Rivet
Specialized synonyms: Absorb, Engross, Engulf, Immerse, Plunge, Soak Up, Steep, Recall, Think, Zoom In, Hear, Listen, Take Heed
Generic synonyms: Cerebrate, Cogitate, Think
Related verbs: Rivet
Derivative terms: Center, Centering, Concentration, Concentration, Focusing, Focussing

3. Noun. Maximum clarity or distinctness of an image rendered by an optical system. "Out of focus"
Generic synonyms: Distinctness, Sharpness

4. Verb. Cause to converge on or toward a central point. "Focus the light on this image"
Specialized synonyms: Refocus
Generic synonyms: Sharpen
Antonyms: Blur
Derivative terms: Focusing

5. Noun. Maximum clarity or distinctness of an idea. "The controversy brought clearly into focus an important difference of opinion"

6. Verb. Bring into focus or alignment; to converge or cause to converge; of ideas or emotions.
Exact synonyms: Concenter, Concentre, Focalise, Focalize
Generic synonyms: Adjust, Align, Aline, Line Up
Specialized synonyms: Refocus
Derivative terms: Focalisation, Focalization, Focusing

7. Noun. A central point or locus of an infection in an organism. "The focus of infection"
Exact synonyms: Focal Point, Nidus
Generic synonyms: Point
Group relationships: Focal Infection

8. Verb. Become focussed or come into focus. "The light focused"
Exact synonyms: Focalise, Focalize
Generic synonyms: Adapt, Adjust, Conform
Derivative terms: Focalisation, Focalization, Focusing
Antonyms: Blur

9. Noun. Special emphasis attached to something. "The stress was more on accuracy than on speed"
Exact synonyms: Stress
Generic synonyms: Accent, Emphasis
Derivative terms: Stress

10. Verb. Put (an image) into focus. "Please focus the image; we cannot enjoy the movie"
Exact synonyms: Focalise, Focalize, Sharpen
Generic synonyms: Adjust, Correct, Set
Specialized synonyms: Refocus
Causes: Focalise, Focalize
Derivative terms: Focalisation, Focalization, Focusing
Antonyms: Blur
Also: Focus On

11. Noun. A point of convergence of light (or other radiation) or a point from which it diverges.
Exact synonyms: Focal Point
Generic synonyms: Point
Derivative terms: Focal

12. Noun. A fixed reference point on the concave side of a conic section.
Generic synonyms: Point
Derivative terms: Focal

Definition of Focus

1. n. A point in which the rays of light meet, after being reflected or refracted, and at which the image is formed; as, the focus of a lens or mirror.

2. v. t. To bring to a focus; to focalize; as, to focus a camera.

Definition of Focus

1. Noun. (countable optics) a point at which reflected or refracted rays of light converge. ¹

2. Noun. (countable geometry) a point of a conic at which rays reflected from a curve or surface converge. ¹

3. Noun. (uncountable photography cinematography) The fact of the convergence of light on the photographic medium. ¹

4. Noun. (uncountable photography cinematography) The quality of the convergence of light on the photographic medium. ¹

5. Noun. concentration of attention. ¹

6. Noun. the exact point of where an earthquake occurs, in three dimensions. ¹

7. Noun. (computing graphical user interface) The indicator of the currently active element in a user interface. ¹

8. Noun. (linguistics) The most important word or phrase in a sentence or passage, or the one that imparts information ¹

9. Verb. (transitive) To cause (rays of light, etc) to converge at a single point. ¹

10. Verb. (transitive) To adjust (a lens, an optical instrument) in order to position an image with respect to the focal plane. ¹

11. Verb. (transitive followed by '''on''' or '''upon''') To concentrate one's attention. ¹

12. Verb. (transitive) To make (a liquid) less diluted. ¹

13. Verb. (intransitive) To concentrate one’s attention. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Focus

1. a point at which rays converge or from which they diverge [n -CUSES or -CI] / to bring to a focus [v -CUSED, -CUSING, -CUSES or -CUSSED, -CUSSING, -CUSSES]

Medical Definition of Focus

1. Group of (frequently neoplastic) cells, identifiable by distinctive morphology or histology. This entry appears with permission from the Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology (11 Mar 2008)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Focus

focalised
focalises
focalising
focalization
focalizations
focalize
focalized
focalizes
focalizing
focally
foci
focillation
focimeter
focimeters
focimetry
focus (current term)
focus-forming unit
focus-group
focus-grouped
focus-grouping
focus-groups
focus group
focus groups
focus on
focusability
focusable
focused
focused grid
focuser

Literary usage of Focus

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. A Treatise on Conic Sections: Containing an Account of Some of the Most by George Salmon (1904)
"The form of the equation shows that the two imaginary lines x* 4- y* are tangents drawn through the focus. Now, since these lines are the same whatever 7 be ..."

2. A Treatise on the Analytic Geometry of Three Dimensions by George Salmon (1882)
"This remains true if the point 0 move on any other quadric having the same focus, directrix, and planes of circular section. Ex. 6. ..."

3. Elementary Treatise on Natural Philosophy by Augustin Privat-Deschanel (1883)
"The distance AF of the principal focus from the lens is called the principal focal distance, or more briefly and usually, the focal length of the lens. ..."

4. The Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and General by Thomas Spencer Baynes (1888)
"In the southern hemisphere also we have proof that the analogous focus hu been travelling, not from west to east, bftt from east to west It would appear ..."

5. Projective Geometry by Oswald Veblen, John Wesley Young (1918)
"The focus is the unique point at which all pairs of conjugate lines are ... The directrix is real, is the polar of the focus, and is perpendicular to the ..."

6. Assessment and Treatment of Patients With Coexisting Mental Illness and by Richard Ries (1996)
"This chapter provides an overview of a dual-focus approach to the assessment ... A single-focus approach emphasizes the importance of developing a diagnosis ..."

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