FOCUS (foci)

Pronunciation (US):

• 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.

• FOCUS (noun)

Meaning:

The concentration of attention or energy on something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

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

Context examples:

the focus of activity shifted to molecular biology / 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)

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context examples:

in focus / out of focus

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

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

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)

Meaning:

A central point or locus of an infection in an organism

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

nidus; focal point; focus

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)

Meaning:

Special emphasis attached to something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

stress; focus

Context example:

the stress was more on accuracy than on speed

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

accent; emphasis (special importance or significance)

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)

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)

• FOCUS (verb)

Meaning:

Direct one's attention on something

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

rivet; pore; focus; concentrate; centre; center

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)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "focus"):

hear; listen; take heed (listen and pay attention)

zoom in (examine closely; focus one's attention on)

think (focus one's attention on a certain state)

recall (cause one's (or someone else's) thoughts or attention to return from a reverie or digression)

absorb; engross; engulf; immerse; plunge; soak up; steep (engross (oneself) fully)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s on something

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 anew)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Antonym:

blur (to make less distinct or clear)

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

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)

Meaning:

Put (an image) into focus

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

sharpen; focalize; focalise; focus

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)