focus

[ foh-kuhs ]

noun

plural focuses or (especially British) focusses, foci

1. a central point, as of attraction, attention, or activity:

   The need to prevent a nuclear war became the focus of all diplomatic efforts.

   Synonyms: nucleus, core, heart, center

2. close attention or concentration:

   Some of the warning signs indicating you should pull over: drifting between lanes, repeated yawning, tailgating, and trouble maintaining focus.

3. the ability to concentrate one’s attention or to sustain concentration:

   Mindfulness and meditation are often suggested to help manage stress, increase awareness of emotions, and improve focus.

4. Physics. a point at which rays of light, heat, or other radiation meet after being refracted or reflected.
5. Optics.
   1. the focal point of a lens, on which rays converge or from which they deviate.
   2. the focal length of a lens; the distance from a focal point to a corresponding principal plane.
   3. the clear and sharply defined condition of an image.
   4. the position of a viewed object or the adjustment of an optical device necessary to produce a clear image:

      in focus; out of focus.

6. Geometry. (of a conic section) a point having the property that the distances from any point on a curve to it and to a fixed line have a constant ratio for all points on the curve.
7. Geology. the point of origin of an earthquake.
8. Pathology. the primary center from which a disease develops or in which it localizes.

verb (used with object)

focused, focusing or (especially British) focussed, focussing.

1. to bring to a focus or into focus; cause to converge on a perceived point:

   to focus the lens of a camera.

2. to concentrate:

   to focus one's thoughts;

   to focus troop deployment in the east.

verb (used without object)

focused, focusing or (especially British) focussed, focussing.

1. to be or become focused:

   My eyes have trouble focusing on distant objects.

2. to direct one's attention or efforts:

   Students must focus in class.

focus

/ ˈfəʊkəs /

noun

1. a point of convergence of light or other electromagnetic radiation, particles, sound waves, etc, or a point from which they appear to diverge
2. another name for focal point focal length
3. optics the state of an optical image when it is distinct and clearly defined or the state of an instrument producing this image

   the picture is in focus

   the telescope is out of focus

4. a point upon which attention, activity, etc, is directed or concentrated
5. geometry a fixed reference point on the concave side of a conic section, used when defining its eccentricity
6. the point beneath the earth's surface at which an earthquake or underground nuclear explosion originates Compare epicentre
7. pathol the main site of an infection or a localized region of diseased tissue

verb

1. to bring or come to a focus or into focus
2. troften foll byon to fix attention (on); concentrate

focus

/ fō′kəs /

, or foci fō′sī′,fō′kī′

1. The degree of clarity with which an eye or optical instrument produces an image.
2. See focal point
3. A central point or region, such as the point at which an earthquake starts.
4. Mathematics.
   A fixed point or one of a pair of fixed points used in generating a curve such as an ellipse, parabola, or hyperbola.
5. The region of a localized bodily infection or disease.

Derived Forms

• ˈfocuser, noun
• ˈfocusable, adjective

Other Word Forms

• fo·cus·a·ble adjective
• fo·cus·er noun
• mis·fo·cus verb misfocused misfocusing or (especially British) misfocussed misfocussing
• mis·fo·cused adjective
• mis·fo·cussed adjective
• o·ver·fo·cus verb (used with object) overfocused overfocusing or (especially British) overfocussed overfocussing
• re·fo·cus verb refocused refocusing or (especially British) refocussed refocussing
• self-fo·cused especially British, self-fo·cussed adjective
• self-fo·cus·ing especially British, self-fo·cus·sing adjective
• un·fo·cus·ing especially British, un·fo·cus·sing adjective
• well-fo·cused especially British, well-fo·cussed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of focus¹

First recorded in 1635–45; Latin: “fireplace, hearth”

Word History and Origins

Origin of focus¹

C17: via New Latin from Latin: hearth, fireplace

Example Sentences

The film skirts overt propaganda as often as it can, focusing instead on the bond the platoon shares, both in and out of combat.

From Salon

Often sounding completely exasperated by the question, the Labour leader said in one interview that "almost nobody is talking about trans issues", querying why it had become a focus of fierce debate.

From BBC

The UK government has so far focused on targeting people-smuggling gangs to bring down illegal migration, which is one of Labour's biggest challenges.

From BBC

In recent years, fusion centers like the one in Norwalk have focused more on routine street crime.

From Los Angeles Times

“The Mayor is focused on leading what is on track to be the fastest disaster recovery effort in California history,” Zach Seidl, a spokesperson for Bass, wrote in a statement to The Times.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• apply oneself to
• attend (to)
• concentrate
• engage
• fixate
• pay attention to
• pore over