n.
(pl. focuses or foci
/ˈfəʊsʌɪ/
)
- the centre of interest or activity.
▸an act of focusing on something.
- the state or quality of having or producing clear visual definition.
▸another term for focal point.
▸the point at which an object must be situated with respect to a lens or mirror for an image of it to be well defined.
- Geology the point of origin of an earthquake. Compare with epicentre.
- Medicine the principal site of an infection or other disease.
- Geometry one of the fixed points from which the distances to any point of an ellipse, parabola, or other curve are connected by a linear relation.
- Linguistics an element of a sentence that is given prominence by intonational or other means.
v.
(focuses, focusing, focused or focusses, focussing, focussed)
- adapt to the prevailing level of light and become able to see clearly.
▸adjust the focus of (a telescope, camera, etc.).
▸(of rays or waves) meet at a single point.
▸(of light, radio waves, or other energy) become concentrated into a sharp beam of light or energy.
-
(focus on)
pay particular attention to.
- Linguistics place the focus on (a part of a sentence).
Derivative
Etymology
C17: from L., lit. ‘domestic hearth’.