focus
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fo·cus
(fō′kəs)n. pl. fo·cus·es or fo·ci (-sī′, -kī′)
1.
a. The distinctness or clarity of an image rendered by an optical system.
b. The state of maximum distinctness or clarity of such an image: in focus; out of focus.
c. An apparatus used to adjust the focal length of an optical system in order to make an image distinct or clear: a camera with automatic focus.
2.
a. A point at which rays of light or other radiation converge or from which they appear to diverge, as after refraction or reflection in an optical system: the focus of a lens. Also called focal point.
b. See focal length.
3.
a. A center of interest or activity: "Precisely how diet affects E. coli in livestock is the focus of current research" (Cindy Engel).
b. Close or narrow attention; concentration: "He was forever taken aback by [New York's] pervasive atmosphere of purposefulness—the tight focus of its drivers, the brisk intensity of its pedestrians" (Anne Tyler).
c. A condition in which something can be clearly apprehended or perceived: couldn't get the problem into focus.
4. Medicine The region of a localized bodily infection or disease.
5. Geology The point of origin of an earthquake.
6. Mathematics A fixed point whose relationship with a directrix determines a conic section.
v. fo·cused, fo·cus·ing, fo·cus·es or fo·cussed or fo·cus·sing or fo·cus·ses
v.tr.
1. To cause (light rays, for example) to converge on or toward a central point; concentrate.
2.
a. To render (an object or image) in clear outline or sharp detail by adjustment of one's vision or an optical device; bring into focus.
b. To adjust (a lens, for example) to produce a clear image.
3. To direct toward a particular point or purpose: focused all their attention on finding a solution to the problem.
v.intr.
1. To converge on or toward a central point of focus; be focused.
2. To adjust one's vision or an optical device so as to render a clear, distinct image.
3. To concentrate attention or energy: a campaign that focused on economic issues.
[New Latin, from Latin, hearth (probably in reference to the fact that a lens or parabolic mirror can concentrate sunlight on a single point to start a fire).]
fo′cus·er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
focus
(ˈfəʊkəs)n, pl -cuses or -ci (-saɪ; -kaɪ; -kiː)
1. (General Physics) a point of convergence of light or other electromagnetic radiation, particles, sound waves, etc, or a point from which they appear to diverge
2. (General Physics) another name for focal point1, focal length
3. (General Physics) 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. (Mathematics) geometry a fixed reference point on the concave side of a conic section, used when defining its eccentricity
6. (Geological Science) the point beneath the earth's surface at which an earthquake or underground nuclear explosion originates. Compare epicentre
7. (Pathology) pathol the main site of an infection or a localized region of diseased tissue
vb, -cuses, -cusing, -cused, -cusses, -cussing or -cussed
8. (General Physics) to bring or come to a focus or into focus
9. (often foll by: on) to fix attention (on); concentrate
[C17: via New Latin from Latin: hearth, fireplace]
ˈfocusable adj
ˈfocuser n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
fo•cus
(ˈfoʊ kəs)n., pl. -cus•es, -ci (-sī, -kī), n.
1. a central point, as of attention or activity.
2. a point at which rays of light, heat, or other radiation meet after being refracted or reflected.
3.
a. the focal point of a lens.
b. the focal length of a lens.
c. the clear and sharply defined condition of an image.
d. the position of a viewed object or the adjustment of an optical device necessary to produce a clear image: out of focus.
4. (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.
5. the point of origin of an earthquake.
6. the primary center from which a disease develops or in which it localizes.
v.t. 7. to bring to a focus or into focus: to focus the lens of a camera.
8. to concentrate: to focus one's thoughts.
v.i. 9. to become focused.
[1635–45; < Latin: fireplace, hearth]
fo′cus•a•ble, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
fo·cus
(fō′kəs) Plural focuses or foci (fō′sī′, fō′kī′)
1. A point at which rays of light come together or from which they appear to spread apart, as after passing through a lens.
2. The degree of clarity with which an eye or optical instrument produces an image: a telescope with excellent focus.
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 constructing a curve such as an ellipse, a parabola, or a hyperbola.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Focus
draw a bead on To aim at carefully, to line up in the sight of one’s gun; to zero in on a person or thing. The reference is to the bead or front sight of a rifle. George Catlin used the expression literally in his treatise on North American Indians (1833).
zero in on To focus one’s attention on a specific person, proposal, issue, or other matter; to aim at; to set one’s sights on. Originally, zero in referred to adjusting the sights of a gun to the zero or horizontal line so that when aimed and fired at a target, the projectile will hit it dead center. Though this meaning persists, the expression has been extended to include figurative application in various nonballistic contexts as evidenced in this example by J. N. Leonard cited in Webster’s Third:
… bird-dogs zeroing in on coveys of hidden quail.
Picturesque Expressions: A Thematic Dictionary, 1st Edition. © 1980 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
focus
Past participle: focused/focussed
Gerund: focusing/focussing
| Imperative |
|---|
| focus |
| focus |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. | focus - the concentration of attention or energy on something; "the focus of activity shifted to molecular biology"; "he had no direction in his life" particularism - a focus on something particular |
| 2. | focus - maximum clarity or distinctness of an image rendered by an optical system; "in focus"; "out of focus" distinctness, sharpness - the quality of being sharp and clear | |
| 3. | focus - maximum clarity or distinctness of an idea; "the controversy brought clearly into focus an important difference of opinion" | |
| 4. |  focus - a central point or locus of an infection in an organism; "the focus of infection"point - the precise location of something; a spatially limited location; "she walked to a point where she could survey the whole street" focal infection - bacterial infection limited to a specific organ or region especially one causing symptoms elsewhere | |
| 5. | focus - special emphasis attached to something; "the stress was more on accuracy than on speed" | |
| 6. | focus - a point of convergence of light (or other radiation) or a point from which it diverges point - the precise location of something; a spatially limited location; "she walked to a point where she could survey the whole street" | |
| 7. | focus - a fixed reference point on the concave side of a conic section point - the precise location of something; a spatially limited location; "she walked to a point where she could survey the whole street" | |
| Verb | 1. | focus - direct one's attention on something; "Please focus on your studies and not on your hobbies" engross, engulf, steep, soak up, immerse, absorb, plunge - devote (oneself) fully to; "He immersed himself into his studies" 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; "I've been thinking all day and getting nowhere" rivet - hold (someone's attention); "The discovery of the skull riveted the paleontologists" recall - cause one's (or someone else's) thoughts or attention to return from a reverie or digression; "She was recalled by a loud laugh" think - focus one's attention on a certain state; "Think big"; "think thin" zoom in - examine closely; focus one's attention on; "He zoomed in on the book" |
| 2. | focus - cause to converge on or toward a central point; "Focus the light on this image" refocus - focus once again; The physicist refocused the light beam" sharpen - make (images or sounds) sharp or sharper blur - to make less distinct or clear; "The haze blurs the hills" | |
| 3. | focus - bring into focus or alignment; to converge or cause to converge; of ideas or emotions align, aline, adjust, line up - place in a line or arrange so as to be parallel or straight; "align the car with the curb"; "align the sheets of paper on the table" refocus - focus anew; "The group needs to refocus its goals" | |
| 4. | focus - become focussed or come into focus; "The light focused" | |
| 5. | focus - put (an image) into focus; "Please focus the image; we cannot enjoy the movie" adjust, correct, set - alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard; "Adjust the clock, please"; "correct the alignment of the front wheels" refocus - put again into focus or focus more sharply; "refocus the image until it is very sharp" center, center on, concentrate on, focus on, revolve about, revolve around - center upon; "Her entire attention centered on her children"; "Our day revolved around our work" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
focus
verb
1. concentrate, centre, spotlight, zero in on (informal), meet, join, direct, aim, pinpoint, converge, rivet, bring to bear, zoom in The summit is expected to focus on arms control.
noun
1. centre, focal point, central point, core, bull's eye, centre of attraction, centre of activity, cynosure The children are the focus of her life.
2. focal point, heart, target, headquarters, hub, meeting place the focus of the campaign for black rights
3. attention, concern, priority, concentration IBM has shifted its focus to personal computers.
4. subject, point, question, issue, matter, object, theme, substance, topic, subject matter, field of inquiry or reference Food is the main focus of the book.
in focus clear, sharp, distinct, crisp, sharp-edged, sharply defined Pictures should be in focus.
out of focus blurred, obscure, unclear, fuzzy, hazy, muzzy, ill-defined, indistinct Some of the pictures are out of focus.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
focus
noun1. A place of concentrated activity, influence, or importance:
1. To direct toward a common center:
2. To devote (oneself or one's efforts):
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
ohniskosoustředitsoustředit sestředstřed zájmu
fokusfokuserehenledemidtpunktbrændpunkt
epitsenterfookuskeskendus
fokuskeskipistekohdistaaleikkauspistepolttopiste
fokususredotočiti se
élesre állítösszpontosít
beina athyglibrennipunktur, fókusmiîdepill, athyglistilla linsu/fókus
焦点焦点を合わせる絞る集める集中する
초점초점을 맞추다
nustatyti ryškumąsutelktižidinio
centrsfokusskoncentrētnostādīt fokusā
ohniskozaostriť
izostritiosredotočiti sežarišče
fokusfokuserabrännpunkt
จุดเน้นมุ่งเน้น
odakodak ayarı yapmakodak noktasıodaklanmakyöneltmek
chú trọngtrọng tâm
focus
[ˈfəʊkəs]A. N (focuses or foci (pl)) [ˈfəʊsaɪ] (gen) → foco m; [of attention] → centro m, foco m
he was the focus of attention → era el centro or foco de atención
to be in focus (Phot) → estar enfocado
to be out of focus (Phot) → estar desenfocado
he was the focus of attention → era el centro or foco de atención
to be in focus (Phot) → estar enfocado
to be out of focus (Phot) → estar desenfocado
B. VT [+ camera, instrument] → enfocar (on a) [+ attention] → centrar, concentrar (on en) to focus one's eyes on sth/sb → fijar la mirada en algo/algn
all eyes were focussed on her → todos la miraban fijamente
all eyes were focussed on her → todos la miraban fijamente
C. VI to focus (on) [light] → converger (en); [heat rays] → concentrarse (en); [eyes] → fijarse (en)
to focus on sth (Phot) → enfocar algo
to focus on sth (Phot) → enfocar algo
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
focus
[ˈfəʊkəs] n [focuses] (pl)
vt
[+ binoculars, telescope] → mettre au point
Try to focus the binoculars → Essaye de mettre les jumelles au point.
to focus binoculars on sth → braquer des jumelles sur qch
to focus a camera on sth → braquer un appareil photo sur qch
Try to focus the binoculars → Essaye de mettre les jumelles au point.
to focus binoculars on sth → braquer des jumelles sur qch
to focus a camera on sth → braquer un appareil photo sur qch
(= concentrate) to focus attention on sb/sth → focaliser l'attention sur qn/qch
to focus one's attention on sb/sth → se focaliser sur qn/qch
to focus one's attention on sb/sth → se focaliser sur qn/qch
focus on
vt fus (with camera) → régler la mise au point sur
The cameraman focused on the bird → Le caméraman a réglé la mise au point sur l'oiseau.
The cameraman focused on the bird → Le caméraman a réglé la mise au point sur l'oiseau.
(= look at) → fixer son regard sur; [eyes] → accommoder sur
(= concentrate on) → se concentrer sur
Let's focus on the plot of the play → Concentrons-nous sur l'intrigue de la pièce.
Let's focus on the plot of the play → Concentrons-nous sur l'intrigue de la pièce.
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
focus
n pl <foci> (Phys, Math, fig) → Brennpunkt m; (of storm) → Zentrum nt; (of earthquake, Med) → Herd m; in focus (camera) → (scharf) eingestellt; photo → scharf; to bring something into focus (lit) → etw klar or scharf einstellen; (fig) topic → etw in den Brennpunkt rücken; out of focus (lit, camera) → unscharf eingestellt; photo → unscharf; (fig) ideas → vage; to come into focus → ins Blickfeld rücken; to keep something in focus (lit) → etw scharf eingestellt im Suchfeld behalten; (fig) → etw im Blickfeld behalten; he/the new proposal was the focus of attention → er/der neue Vorschlag stand im Mittelpunkt
vt instrument → einstellen (→ on auf +acc); light, heat rays → bündeln; (fig) one’s efforts, resources, energy → konzentrieren (→ on auf +acc); to focus one’s eyes on somebody/something → den Blick auf jdn/etw richten; to focus one’s attention/mind → sich konzentrieren; I should like to focus your attention (up)on a new problem → ich möchte Ihre Aufmerksamkeit auf ein neues Problem lenken
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
focus
[ˈfəʊkəs]1. n (focuses or foci (pl)) [ˈfəʊkaɪ] (gen) → fuoco; (of attention, interest) → centro
to be out of focus (Phot) → essere sfocato/a
in focus → a fuoco
to be out of focus (Phot) → essere sfocato/a
in focus → a fuoco
2. vt to focus (on) (camera, instrument, field glasses) → mettere a fuoco (su); (attention, eyes) → focalizzare (su); (light rays) → far convergere (su)
3. vi to focus (on) (light, heat, rays) → convergere (su); (person) → fissare lo sguardo (su)
to focus on sth (eyes, person) → mettere a fuoco qc
to focus on sth (eyes, person) → mettere a fuoco qc
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
focus
(ˈfoukəs) – plurals ˈfocuses ~foci (ˈfousai) – noun1. the point at which rays of light meet after passing through a lens.
2. a point to which light, a look, attention etc is directed. She was the focus of everyone's attention.
verb – past tense, past participle ˈfocus(s)ed – 1. to adjust (a camera, binoculars etc) in order to get a clear picture. Remember to focus the camera / the picture before taking the photograph.
2. to direct (attention etc) to one point. The accident focussed public attention on the danger.
ˈfocal adjectivein/out of focus
giving or not giving a clear picture. These photographs are out of focus.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
focus
→ مَرْكَز, يُرَكِّزُ soustředit se, střed zájmu fokus, fokusere Brennpunkt, konzentrieren (sich) εστία, εστιάζω enfocar, foco keskipiste, kohdistaa centre, se concentrer fokus, usredotočiti se centro, concentrarsi 焦点, 焦点を合わせる 초점, 초점을 맞추다 aandacht hebben voor, focus fokus, fokusere ognisko, skupić focar, foco фокус, фокусировать(ся) fokus, fokusera จุดเน้น, มุ่งเน้น odak, odaklanmak chú trọng, trọng tâm 焦点, 集中Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
fo·cus
n. L. foco;
vt. enfocar.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
focus
n (pl foci o focuses) foco; vt (pret & pp focused o focussed; ger focusing o focussing) enfocar; to — on centrarse en, enfocarse en; We need to focus on your health..Tenemos que centrarnos en su salud.English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.