focus

fo-cus · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    The center of interest or activity.

  2. 2.

    The state of having clear vision or concentration.

  3. 3.

    (Optics/Physics) The point at which rays meet after reflection or refraction.

  4. 4.

    To concentrate attention or effort on something.

  5. 5.

    To adjust a lens to produce a clear image.

Forms

plural: focuses/foci

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    bring into focus — To make clear.
  • •
    in focus — Clear and sharp.
  • •
    out of focus — Blurry; not well defined.
  • •
    focus group — A group assembled for research.
  • •
    lose focus — To become distracted.

Related words

Antonyms: distraction
See also: attention, center, clarity, concentrate
Synonyms: attention, center, concentration, emphasis

Etymology

From Latin focus ("hearth, fireplace"), later used in optics to mean "burning point of a lens" because rays converge there like flames at a hearth.