focus

noun foci · focuses · focusses

1. countable A point at which reflected or refracted rays of light converge. The heat of sunlight at the focus of a magnifying glass can easily set dry leaves on fire.

   Similar: focal point

2. countable A point of a conic at which rays reflected from a curve or surface converge.
3. uncountable The fact of the convergence of light on the photographic medium. Unfortunately, the license plate is out of focus in this image.
4. uncountable The quality of the convergence of light on the photographic medium. During this scene, the boy’s face shifts subtly from soft focus into sharp focus.
5. uncountable Concentration of attention. I believe I can bring the high degree of focus required for this important job.
6. countable Something to which activity, attention or interest is primarily directed. My studies are my main focus right now.

   Similar: focal point

7. countable The exact point of where an earthquake occurs, in three dimensions (underneath the epicentre). The earthquake's focus was at exactly 37 degrees north, 18 degrees south, seventy five meters below the ground.
8. countable, uncountable The status of being the currently active element in a user interface, often indicated by a visual highlight. Text entered at the keyboard or pasted from a clipboard is sent to the component which currently has the focus.
9. countable, uncountable The most important word or phrase in a sentence or passage, or the one that imparts information.
10. countable, uncountable An object used in casting a magic spell. Candles, in fact, are an essential ingredient in many spells. They can be used as either the focus of the spell or as a component that sets the spell's overall mood and tone.
11. countable, uncountable The centre of an older fish's scale, which is the point where a younger fish's scale starts to grow from.

verb focuses · focusses · focusing · focussing · focused

1. transitive To cause (rays of light, etc) to converge at a single point. The difficulties of focussing colour-light signals on curved tracks to ensure maximum sighting distance were underlined in the recent official report [...] on a low-speed collision at Newcastle Central on July 25, 1960, between an unfitted freight and a diesel-hauled passenger train.
2. transitive To adjust (a lens, an optical instrument) in order to position an image with respect to the focal plane. You'll need to focus the microscope carefully in order to capture the full detail of this surface.
3. intransitive, usually, of a lens To adjust itself or be adjusted such that light from a scene converges appropriately to create a clear image. I can't get the lens to focus.
4. transitive To direct attention, effort, or energy to a particular audience or task. The president focused her remarks on the newcomers.
5. intransitive To concentrate one’s attention. If you're going to beat your competitors, you need to focus.
6. intransitive, followed by on or upon To concentrate one's attention on something; to have as one's central point of interest, concern, etc. I have to focus on my work.
7. transitive To transfer the input focus to (a visual element), so that it receives subsequent input. The text box won't receive the user's keystrokes unless you explicitly focus it.
8. To aggregate figures of accounts. Whole pages of it are filled with masses of figures, generally single numbers added up in batches, and then the totals added in batches again, as though he were "focusing" some account, as the auditors put it.

Similar: adhere, align, anchor, apply, attend, base, center, centre, concentrate, direct, engage, fixate, hone, point · Opposite: defocus, dilute, ignore, muddy