Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. A point at which rays of light or other radiation converge or from which they appear to diverge, as after refraction or reflection in an optical system: the focus of a lens. Also called focal point.
- n. See focal length.
- n. The distinctness or clarity of an image rendered by an optical system.
- n. The state of maximum distinctness or clarity of such an image: in focus; out of focus.
- n. An apparatus used to adjust the focal length of an optical system in order to make an image distinct or clear: a camera with automatic focus.
- n. A center of interest or activity. See Synonyms at center.
- n. Close or narrow attention; concentration: "He was forever taken aback by [New York's] pervasive atmosphere of purposefulness—the tight focus of its drivers, the brisk intensity of its pedestrians” ( Anne Tyler).
- n. A condition in which something can be clearly apprehended or perceived: couldn't get the problem into focus.
- n. Pathology The region of a localized bodily infection or disease.
- n. Geology The point of origin of an earthquake.
- n. Mathematics A fixed point whose relationship with a directrix determines a conic section.
- v. To cause (light rays, for example) to converge on or toward a central point; concentrate.
- v. To render (an object or image) in clear outline or sharp detail by adjustment of one's vision or an optical device; bring into focus.
- v. To adjust (a lens, for example) to produce a clear image.
- v. To direct toward a particular point or purpose: focused all their attention on finding a solution to the problem.
- v. To converge on or toward a central point of focus; be focused.
- v. To adjust one's vision or an optical device so as to render a clear, distinct image.
- v. To concentrate attention or energy: a campaign that focused on economic issues.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. In optics, a point at which rays of light that originally diverged from one point meet again, or a point from which they appear to proceed. The former is called a real, the latter a virtual focus. The principal focus of a lens is the focus of rays striking the lens parallel to its axis. The conjugate foci of a mirror or lens are two points so situated that the rays emitted from a luminous body at either point are reflected (by the mirror) or refracted (by the lens) to the other. See
conjugate mirror (under conjugate), lens, and mirror. - n. In geometry, a point from which the distances to any point of a given curve are in a syzygetic relation. Thus, the sum of the distances of any point of an ellipse from its foci is constant, and the difference of the distances of any point of a hyperbola from its foci is constant. A modern definition is that the foci are the intersections of common tangents of the curve and the absolute. In like manner, a focus of a surface is a point on the curve of intersection of common tangent planes of the surface and the absolute. See cuts under
Cartesian and ellipse. - n. In the theory of perspective, with reference to two planes in perspective, one of four points—two, F1 and F2, on one plane, and two, f1 and f2, on the other—such that the angles between two points on the first plane measured at F1 are equal to the angles between the corresponding points on the other plane measured at f1, and so with the pair of foci F2 and f2. One pair of foci are called
similar , because the angles are measured in the same direction on the two planes; the other pair are calleddissimilar , because the angles are measured in opposite directions. - n. Figuratively (with a consciousness of the classical Latin meaning), a central or gathering point, like the fire or hearth of a household; the point at or about which anything is concentrated; a center of interest or attraction.
- To bring or adjust to a focus; cause to be in focus; focalize; collect in one point; concentrate.
- n. In pathology, a center of morbid action; one of the primary or principal lesions.
Wiktionary
- n. countable, optics a point at which reflected or refracted rays of light converge.
- n. countable, geometry a point of a conic at which rays reflected from a curve or surface converge.
- n. uncountable, photography, cinematography The fact of the convergence of light on the photographic medium.
- n. uncountable, photography, cinematography The quality of the convergence of light on the photographic medium.
- n. uncountable concentration of attention.
- n. countable, seismology the exact point of where an earthquake occurs, in three dimensions.
- n. computing, graphical user interface The indicator of the currently active element in a user interface.
- n. linguistics The most important word or phrase in a sentence or passage, or the one that imparts information
- v. transitive To cause (rays of light, etc) to converge at a single point.
- v. transitive To adjust (a lens, an optical instrument) in order to position an image with respect to the focal plane.
- v. transitive To concentrate one's attention.
- v. transitive To make (a liquid) less diluted.
- v. intransitive To concentrate one’s attention.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. (Opt.) A point in which the rays of light meet, after being reflected or refracted, and at which the image is formed
- n. (Geom.) A point so related to a conic section and certain straight line called the
directrix that the ratio of the distance between any point of the curve and the focus to the distance of the same point from the directrix is constant. - n. A central point; a point of concentration.
- v. To bring to a focus; to focalize; as, to focus a camera.
WordNet 3.0
- n. a point of convergence of light (or other radiation) or a point from which it diverges
- n. the concentration of attention or energy on something
- n. maximum clarity or distinctness of an idea
- n. maximum clarity or distinctness of an image rendered by an optical system
- n. a central point or locus of an infection in an organism
- v. direct one's attention on something
- v. put (an image) into focus
- n. a fixed reference point on the concave side of a conic section
- v. become focussed or come into focus
- v. cause to converge on or toward a central point
- v. bring into focus or alignment; to converge or cause to converge; of ideas or emotions
- n. special emphasis attached to something
Etymologies
- Latin focus ("hearth, fireplace"), of unknown origin. Usually connected with Old Armenian բոց (bocʿ). (Wiktionary)
- Latin, hearth. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)
Examples
“I think my grandfather is trying to tell me something. * focus Nate focus*”
“Ooohh my mind is so messed up today. * focus dear child focus* But then again, isn't my mind is ALWAYS messed up?”
“As an example, the ease and power of spinning the control dial to adjust manual focus in combination with _*focus bracketing*_: O was a most pleasant surprise, and the combination is better than what is offered by many DSLRs.”
“I’m trying to focus on something specific to write. * focus Nate focus* Maybe I’ll do that tomorrow.”
“My main focus is making sure that people have options of high-quality care at the lowest possible price.”
“My main focus is the 22 or 25 players who are going to be top prospects.”
Mike and Karla Sillinger have been everywhere…but Regina is home
“I told people before the game, my main focus is to get to the hole and get fouled," said Blatche who scored 23 points.”
The Washington Post: A memorable home opener for Wall, Wizards
“BASIC - (British American Security Information Council): Its main focus is on nuclear issues, but it has been active on the "small arms issue" for ten years.”
Tom McIntyre Explains His Picks for our 2009 Hunting and Fishing Heroes and Villians Face-Off
“Brooklyn Street Art: The journal's main focus is in street and rrban art.”
The Huffington Post: Jaime Rojo & Steven Harrington: Print Is Dead, Long Live the Print Journal!
“I read the article about John Thune this morning and the GOP's main focus is about stopping Obama and the Democrats.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘focus’.
-
Linda(G4)
Accurate, address, afford, alert, analyze, ancestor, annual, apparent, arena, arrest, ascend, assist and 126 more...
-
EU Buzz - ALL words and expressions
A combined list of
1. EU Buzz - single words
2. EU Buzz - collocations
3. EU Buzz - the 100 most active
collocation constituentsabsorption capacity, absorption rate, acceding country, accession candidate, accession countries, accession country, accession criteria, accession cycle, accession negotia..., accession partner..., accession priorities, accession treaty and 2650 more...
-
EN - academic vocabulary
Use these and get promoted
abandon, abandonment, abnormally, abstract, abstraction, abstractly, abstracts, academia, academic, academically, academics, academies and 3119 more...
-
Brand Theft Auto
A marque list for cars--models or companies who've used common words as their name.
explorer, navigator, frontier, mustang, quest, cougar, sidekick, legend, legacy, ranger, voyager, civic and 266 more...
-
Public List: Two by Fives
This is an experiment in public lists--something I've been thinking about for some time. The goal is to create a collection of short, powerful, evocative words.
This is an open list. A...icy, howl, hymn, thorn, fire, vile, mist, blunt, scum, dark, shot, gleam and 221 more...
-
Interesting words
A list of words that are odd or words that I have looked up.
concupiscence, brize, scree, scoria, forestaff, spanaemia, valetudinarianism, distasture, pyrethrum, laudanum, gentian, bicameral and 11250 more...
-
EU Buzz - single words (1+2+3)
1. Strictly EU terms with special European meaning used only in the EU
+
2. Keywords central to the understanding of the EU (people working for the EU are usually able to give thematic...acceleration, action, additionality, administrator, agenda, agricultural, agri-environmental, agriflation, agri-food, applicant, approach, assent and 1325 more...
-
Various words
Words that some students had difficulty pronouncing.
components, corruption, culture, development, diversify, dreams, engineering, essential, establish, focus, hierarchy, identify and 13 more...
-
Alternatives to LOOK
Look is a boring word.
admire, focus, contemplate, gawk, inspect, scan, scrutinized, spot, study, observe, gaze, stare and 3 more...
-
Here and Now
Words related to the mental state of "being in the present in the moment".
improvisation, nolens volens, extempore, autoschediastic, in medias res, willy-nilly, egersis, immanence, nunc pro tunc, spontaneity, observant, concentration and 55 more...
-
Back and surprised
unexpected friend..., everyone is just ..., everyone has thei..., shared personalit..., hr process works, comparison, choose the best, making choices, big meet hangover, shyness, where to next, what to say next and 18 more...
-
lasers
words associated with LASERS.
( open list, randomness )
NOTE: i'd like to keep the list specific to the LASER itself (Any LASER), and leave out applied sciences..
sp...electromagnetism, light, wavelength, phase, frequency, polarization, emission, optical, spectroscopy, lase, crystal, projection and 61 more...
-
Lifehacking
Start with the effect, the what; signal-patch known-belief spirit. "Write my program, routine me." New cue vs brand loyalty. Ritual Ceremony Design Technologies, Inc.
confusion, misdirection, fractionation, disequilibrium, relaxation, repetition, impassioned, intensity, suddenly, shock, concentration, focus and 118 more...
-
National Library Agenda Summit
nla2006, summit, agenda, library, ala, diversity, education, learning, continuous, scan, environmental, plan and 646 more...
-
kat's words
ecumenical, cacophony, clatter, marimba, bamboo, saffron, slice, mercurial, pomegranate, cranky, slipshod, scritch and 511 more...
-
Basic English Vocabulary
Very basic words for ESL students.
a, abandon, ability, able, abortion, about, above, abroad, absence, absolute, absolutely, absorb and 4334 more...
Tweets
Looking for tweets for focus.

pattiroll ... for applying significant pressure on the center portion of the skateboard to break the board in half.
Dec 14, 2006