Library / English Dictionary

FOCUS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected form: foci   

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Maximum clarity or distinctness of an image rendered by an optical system

Example:

out of focus

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("focus" is a kind of...):

distinctness; sharpness (the quality of being sharp and clear)

Derivation:

focus (put (an image) into focus)

focus (cause to converge on or toward a central point)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Maximum clarity or distinctness of an idea

Example:

the controversy brought clearly into focus an important difference of opinion

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("focus" is a kind of...):

clarity; clearness; limpidity; lucidity; lucidness; pellucidity (free from obscurity and easy to understand; the comprehensibility of clear expression)

Derivation:

focus (bring into focus or alignment; to converge or cause to converge; of ideas or emotions)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The concentration of attention or energy on something

Example:

he had no direction in his life

Synonyms:

centering; direction; focal point; focus; focusing; focussing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("focus" is a kind of...):

absorption; concentration; engrossment; immersion (complete attention; intense mental effort)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "focus"):

particularism (a focus on something particular)

Derivation:

focus (direct one's attention on something)

focus (bring into focus or alignment; to converge or cause to converge; of ideas or emotions)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A fixed reference point on the concave side of a conic section

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Hypernyms ("focus" is a kind of...):

point (the precise location of something; a spatially limited location)

Derivation:

focal (of or relating to a focus)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A point of convergence of light (or other radiation) or a point from which it diverges

Synonyms:

focal point; focus

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural phenomena

Hypernyms ("focus" is a kind of...):

point (the precise location of something; a spatially limited location)

Derivation:

focal (of or relating to a focus)

focus (become focussed or come into focus)

focus (cause to converge on or toward a central point)

Sense 6

Meaning:

A central point or locus of an infection in an organism

Example:

the focus of infection

Synonyms:

focal point; focus; nidus

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("focus" is a kind of...):

point (the precise location of something; a spatially limited location)

Holonyms ("focus" is a part of...):

focal infection (bacterial infection limited to a specific organ or region especially one causing symptoms elsewhere)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Special emphasis attached to something

Example:

the stress was more on accuracy than on speed

Synonyms:

focus; stress

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("focus" is a kind of...):

accent; emphasis (special importance or significance)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Put (an image) into focus

Example:

Please focus the image; we cannot enjoy the movie

Synonyms:

focalise; focalize; focus; sharpen

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "focus" is one way to...):

adjust; correct; set (alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard)

Cause:

focalise; focalize; focus (become focussed or come into focus)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "focus"):

refocus (put again into focus or focus more sharply)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Antonym:

blur (make dim or indistinct)

Also:

focus on (center upon)

Derivation:

focus (maximum clarity or distinctness of an image rendered by an optical system)

focusing (the act of bringing into focus)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Become focussed or come into focus

Example:

The light focused

Synonyms:

focalise; focalize; focus

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "focus" is one way to...):

adapt; adjust; conform (adapt or conform oneself to new or different conditions)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Antonym:

blur (become vague or indistinct)

Derivation:

focus (a point of convergence of light (or other radiation) or a point from which it diverges)

focusing (the act of bringing into focus)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Direct one's attention on something

Example:

Please focus on your studies and not on your hobbies

Synonyms:

center; centre; concentrate; focus; pore; rivet

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "focus" is one way to...):

cerebrate; cogitate; think (use or exercise the mind or one's power of reason in order to make inferences, decisions, or arrive at a solution or judgments)

Verb group:

rivet (hold (someone's attention))

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "focus"):

absorb; engross; engulf; immerse; plunge; soak up; steep (devote (oneself) fully to)

recall (cause one's (or someone else's) thoughts or attention to return from a reverie or digression)

think (focus one's attention on a certain state)

zoom in (examine closely; focus one's attention on)

hear; listen; take heed (listen and pay attention)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s on something

Derivation:

focus; focusing; focussing (the concentration of attention or energy on something)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Bring into focus or alignment; to converge or cause to converge; of ideas or emotions

Synonyms:

concenter; concentre; focalise; focalize; focus

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "focus" is one way to...):

adjust; align; aline; line up (place in a line or arrange so as to be parallel or straight)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "focus"):

refocus (focus anew)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

focus (maximum clarity or distinctness of an idea)

focus (the concentration of attention or energy on something)

focusing (the act of bringing into focus)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Cause to converge on or toward a central point

Example:

Focus the light on this image

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "focus" is one way to...):

sharpen (make (images or sounds) sharp or sharper)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "focus"):

refocus (focus once again)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Antonym:

blur (to make less distinct or clear)

Derivation:

focus (maximum clarity or distinctness of an image rendered by an optical system)

focus (a point of convergence of light (or other radiation) or a point from which it diverges)

focusing (the act of bringing into focus)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Although in the last third of the month, you will necessarily focus on work matters, you will have Venus in Pisces—a sign perfect for drawing love to you—from January 13 until February 7.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

This type of planet will continue to be the focus of future searches for life beyond our Solar System.

(Researchers find two new planets with masses similar to Earth’s near a small neighbouring star, University of Granada)

A health practice that combines mental focus, controlled breathing, and body movements to help relax the body and mind.

(Mind-body modality, NCI Dictionary)

The research focuses on 14 previous studies based on six different groups of participants, totalling more than 230,000 people who were followed over periods ranging between 5.5‌ ‌and‌ ‌35‌ ‌years.‌

(Reduce Risk of Early Death with Any Amount of Running, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Subdiscipline of genetics with a focus on bacteria.

(Bacterial Genetics, NCI Thesaurus)

It uses relatively inexpensive, focused educational mechanisms that can be used during short one-on-one conversations with physicians.

(Academic Detailing, NCI Thesaurus)

Aberrant crypt foci form before colorectal polyps and are one of the earliest changes that can be seen in the colon that may lead to cancer.

(Aberrant crypt foci, NCI Dictionary)

The focus is not on course work but on hands-on meritorious research.

(Academic Research Enhancement Awards (Area), NCI Thesaurus)

Foci of consolidation may indicate early stages of adenoma formation.

(Alveoli Epithelial Hyperplasia of the Mouse Pulmonary System, NCI Thesaurus/MMHCC)

A subdiscipline of nursing focusing on care for patients with short term illnesses.

(Acute Illnesses Nursing, NCI Thesaurus)