focus
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fo·cus (fō′kəs)
noun pl. focuses fo′·cuses or foci fo′ci′ (-sī′)
- the point where rays of light, heat, etc. or waves of sound come together, or from which they spread or seem to spread; specif., the point where rays of light reflected by a mirror or refracted by a lens meet (called real focus) or the point where they would meet if prolonged backward through the lens or mirror (called virtual focus)
- focal length
- an adjustment of the focal length to make a clear image to bring a camera into focus
- any center of activity, attention, etc.
- a part of the body where a disease process, as an infection, tumor, etc., is localized or most active
- the starting point of an earthquake
- Math.
- either of the two fixed points used in determining an ellipse
- any analogous point for a parabola or hyperbola
Etymology: ModL, adopted in math. senses by Johannes Kepler (1604) < L, fireplace, hearth < ? IE base *bhok-, to flame, burn > ? Arm bo, flame
transitive verb focused -·cused or focussed -·cussed, focusing -·cus·ing or focussing -·cus·sing
- to bring into focus
- to adjust the focal length of (the eye, a lens, etc.) in order to produce a clear image
- to fix or settle on one thing; concentrate to focus one's attention on a question
intransitive verb
- to meet at a focus
- to adjust one's eye or a lens so as to make a clear image
- to direct one's thoughts or efforts; concentrate
Related Forms:
- focuser fo′·cuser noun
in focus
out of focus
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Alternate definitions:
focus
n.
in focus
out of focus
focus
v.
Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Object
- attention: Abraham did not want to focus attention on the ram.
Preposition: on
- issue: Our comments will focus on these main issues of concern.
Converse of object
- provide: The commander provides the focus to prioritize these IO assets.
Adjective modifier
- sharp: I confess that I should like to have these basic concepts in sharper focus!
Modifies a noun
- group: Design: Qualitative focus group study consisting of 11 focus groups with 67 participants.
Followed by an intransitive particle
- on: FOCUS ON INDIA Welcome to all our Indian collaborators who have joined recently.
Preposition: of
- attention: The K-theory of the modular group is also a current focus of attention.
Noun used with modifier
- auto: Other focusing options include manual focusing, auto focusing lock, focus bracketing and an auto focus assist beam for lowlight photography.
The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.
Johnny, keep it out of focus. I want to win the foreign picture award.
Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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Cite this page:
MLA Style
"focus." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009
- Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
- <www.yourdictionary.com/focus>
APA Style
focus. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary
- Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/focus

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