FOCUS (foci)

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does focus mean? 

• FOCUS (noun)
  The noun FOCUS has 7 senses:

1. the concentration of attention or energy on something

2. maximum clarity or distinctness of an image rendered by an optical system

3. maximum clarity or distinctness of an idea

4. a central point or locus of an infection in an organism

5. special emphasis attached to something

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

7. a fixed reference point on the concave side of a conic section

  Familiarity information: FOCUS used as a noun is common.

• FOCUS (verb)
  The verb FOCUS has 5 senses:

1. direct one's attention on something

2. cause to converge on or toward a central point

3. bring into focus or alignment; to converge or cause to converge; of ideas or emotions

4. become focussed or come into focus

5. put (an image) into focus

  Familiarity information: FOCUS used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FOCUS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The concentration of attention or energy on something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

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

Context example:

he had no direction in his life

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 2

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

out of focus

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

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

Derivation:

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

focus (put (an image) into focus)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Maximum clarity or distinctness of an idea

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

the controversy brought clearly into focus an important difference of opinion

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 4

Meaning:

A central point or locus of an infection in an organism

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

focal point; focus; nidus

Context example:

the focus of infection

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 5

Meaning:

Special emphasis attached to something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

focus; stress

Context example:

the stress was more on accuracy than on speed

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

accent; emphasis (special importance or significance)

Sense 6

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural phenomena

Synonyms:

focal point; focus

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 7

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)

• FOCUS (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Direct one's attention on something

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

center; centre; concentrate; focus; pore; rivet

Context example:

Please focus on your studies and not on your hobbies

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 2

Meaning:

Cause to converge on or toward a central point

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Context example:

Focus the light on this image

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)

Sense 3

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

concenter; concentre; focalise; focalize; focus

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 4

Meaning:

Become focussed or come into focus

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

focalise; focalize; focus

Context example:

The light focused

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 5

Meaning:

Put (an image) into focus

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

focalise; focalize; focus; sharpen

Context example:

Please focus the image; we cannot enjoy the movie

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)

 Context examples 

Researchers estimated prices of 657 standardised food products using the 2011 International Comparison Program survey that focused on 176 countries.

(High cost of healthy food to blame for malnutrition, SciDev.Net)

"We focused on nose traits that differ across populations and looked at geographical variation with respect to temperature and humidity."

(Nose Form Was Shaped by Climate, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

The discovery stems from scientist Maria Harrison’s focus on plants’ symbiotic relationships with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi.

(Plant gene discovery could help reduce fertilizer pollution in waterways, National Science Foundation)

Data was collected on more than 3,400 patients, focusing on cancers of the breast, colon, uterus, and bladder.

(Black/White Cancer Survival Study, NCI Thesaurus)

Treatment focuses on reducing pain and preventing serious problems.

(Behcet's Syndrome, NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)

Research focused on detection of biowarfare agents and the treatment of individuals exposed to or affected by these agents.

(Bioterrorism Research, NCI Thesaurus)

Mature fat replaces bone starting from a central focus of calcification.

(Bone Lipoma, NCI Thesaurus)

A mind-body practice in which a person focuses his or her attention on something, such as an object, word, phrase, or breathing, in order to minimize distracting or stressful thoughts or feelings.

(Meditation, NCI Dictionary)

Research that focuses on the genetics and mechanisms of cell transformation; the role of oxygen radicals in the carcinogenesis process; and identification and properties of tumor promoters and mechanisms of tumor promotion.

(Molecular Carcinogenesis, NCI Thesaurus)

A multidisciplinary field that focuses on the ability to engineer and manipulate functional systems at the molecular level.

(Molecular Nanotechnology, NCI Thesaurus)