concentrate

[ kon-suhn-treyt ]

verb (used with object)

, con·cen·trat·ed, con·cen·trat·ing.

1. to bring or draw to a common center or point of union; converge; direct toward one point; focus:

   to concentrate one's attention on a problem; to concentrate the rays of the sun with a lens.

   Antonyms: disperse, dissipate

2. to put or bring into a single place, group, etc.:

   The nation's wealth had been concentrated in a few families.

3. to intensify; make denser, stronger, or purer, especially by the removal or reduction of liquid:

   to concentrate fruit juice; to concentrate a sauce by boiling it down.

4. Mining. to separate (metal or ore) from rock, sand, etc., so as to improve the quality of the valuable portion.

verb (used without object)

, con·cen·trat·ed, con·cen·trat·ing.

1. to bring all efforts, faculties, activities, etc., to bear on one thing or activity (often followed by on or upon ):

   to concentrate on solving a problem.

   Antonyms: diverge

2. to come to or toward a common center; converge; collect:

   The population concentrated in one part of the city.

3. to become more intense, stronger, or purer.

noun

1. a concentrated form of something; a product of concentration:

   a juice concentrate.

concentrate

/ ˈkɒnsənˌtreɪt /

verb

1. to come or cause to come to a single purpose or aim

   to concentrate one's hopes on winning

2. to make or become denser or purer by the removal of certain elements, esp the solvent of a solution
3. tr to remove rock or sand from (an ore) to make it purer
4. introften foll byon to bring one's faculties to bear (on); think intensely (about)

noun

1. a concentrated material or solution

   tomato concentrate

Derived Forms

• ˈconcenˌtrator, noun

Other Words From

• con·cen·tra·tive [kon, -s, uh, n-trey-tiv, k, uh, n-, sen, -tr, uh, -], adjective
• concen·trative·ness noun
• concen·trator noun
• non·concen·trative adjective
• non·concen·trative·ness noun
• over·concen·trate verb overconcentrated overconcentrating
• pre·concen·trate noun verb preconcentrated preconcentrating
• re·concen·trate verb reconcentrated reconcentrating
• un·concen·trative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of concentrate¹

First recorded in 1630–40; from French concentr(er) or Italian concentr(are) ( con-, center ) + -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of concentrate¹

C17: back formation from concentration , ultimately from Latin com- same + centrum centre

Synonym Study

See contract.

Example Sentences

If you drink from a flute, do so from a tulip-shape one to concentrate the notes, Simonetti-Bryan says.

From The Daily Beast

He did suffer from ‘Black Dog’ [depression] as he called it and having something to concentrate on was therapeutic for him.

From The Daily Beast

She struggled to concentrate on crossword puzzles and read books, so she just watched television.

From The Daily Beast

In times of crisis, President Obama can be counted on to concentrate power in the White House.

From The Daily Beast

The Guard will concentrate its resources on carrying out this limited mission.

From The Daily Beast

He was trying hard to concentrate his mind upon the sweet and common things of life.

From Project Gutenberg

I dont know that I care for chess; I can not concentrate my attention as I could a year ago.

From Project Gutenberg

Hence the alternative has been to concentrate the "less eligibility" on the conditions of the pauper's mental life.

From Project Gutenberg

They were evidently desirous only of gaining time by negociation to assemble and concentrate their forces.

From Project Gutenberg

Citizens, by birth or choice of a common country, that country has a right to concentrate your affections.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• accumulate
• cluster
• combine
• consolidate
• eliminate
• focus
• integrate
• intensify
• reduce
• strengthen