focus
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
Latin focus (“‘hearth, fireplace’”), of unknown origin.
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Noun
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Singular |
Plural |
focus (countable and uncountable; plural foci or focuses)
- (countable, optics) 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.
- (countable, geometry) a point of a conic at which rays reflected from a curve or surface converge.
- (uncountable, photography, cinematography) The fact of the convergence of light on the photographic medium.
- Unfortunately, the license plate is out of focus in this image.
- (uncountable, photography, cinematography) 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.
- (uncountable) concentration of attention.
- I believe I can bring the high degree of focus required for this important job.
- (countable) the exact point of where an earthquake occurs, in three dimensions.
- The earthquake's focus was at exactly 37 degrees north, 18 degrees south, seventy five meters below the ground.
- (computing) The indicator of the currently active element in a user interface.
- Text entered at the keyboard or pasted from a clipboard is sent to the component which currently has the focus.
[edit] Translations
in optics
in mathematics
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fact of the convergence of light on the photographic medium
quality of the convergence of light on the photographic medium
concentration of attention
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exact point of where an earthquake occurs
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[edit] Verb
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Infinitive |
to focus (third-person singular simple present focuses or, less commonly, focusses, present participle focusing or, less commonly, focussing, simple past and past participle focused or, less commonly, focussed)
- (transitive) To cause (rays of light, etc) to converge at a single point.
- (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.
- (transitive, followed by on or upon) To concentrate one's attention.
- Focus on passing the test.
- (transitive) To make (a liquid) less diluted.
- (intransitive) To concentrate one’s attention.
- If you're going to beat your competitors, you need to focus.
[edit] Usage notes
The spellings focusses, focussing, focussed are chiefly British while the spellings focuses, focusing, focused are preferred in the US.
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Related terms
[edit] Translations
cause (rays of light, etc) to converge at a single point
to adjust (a lens, an optical instrument)
transitive: to concentrate one's attention
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make (a liquid) less diluted
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intransitive: to concentrate one's attention
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[edit] Italian
[edit] Noun
focus m. inv.
- focus (all senses)
[edit] Latin
[edit] Noun
focus (genitive focī); m, second declension
[edit] Inflection
| Number | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | focus | focī |
| genitive | focī | focōrum |
| dative | focō | focīs |
| accusative | focum | focōs |
| ablative | focō | focīs |
| vocative | foce | focī |
