focus

[ foh-kuhs ]

noun

, plural fo·cus·es or (especially British) fo·cus·ses, fo·ci [foh, -sahy, -kahy].

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)

, fo·cused, fo·cus·ing or (especially British) fo·cussed, fo·cus·sing.

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)

, fo·cused, fo·cus·ing or (especially British) fo·cussed, fo·cus·sing.

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 Words From

• 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

Mr Bailey will also say the UK should not focus "just on the effects of Brexit", warning about the "broader fragmentation of the global economy".

From BBC

Tanton’s belief that mass immigration would supplant white America had one particular focus: He saw it as a threat to the country’s ecology and ultimately to the consensus among environmentalists about preserving the purity of that ecology.

From Salon

Despite these risks, market experts suggest investors should focus on the economic environment and company fundamentals, as political factors tend to have a short-lived impact on the stock market and policy changes require time to be implemented.

From Salon

While UK pension schemes tend to invest more in assets like equities and bonds, their Canadian rivals focus more on private markets.

From BBC

He said the current system encourages trustees to deliver the best outcome for members rather than focus on UK-wide economic growth, which might mean investing outside the UK.

From BBC

Related Words

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