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Focus

/ˈfəʊ.kəs/

A point at which reflected or refracted rays of light converge.

Full Dictionary Entry

📖 Definitions of "Focus"

noun

1
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."
2
A point of a conic at which rays reflected from a curve or surface converge.
3
The fact of the convergence of light on the photographic medium.
"Unfortunately, the license plate is out of focus in this image."
4
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."

verb

1
(followed by on or upon) To concentrate one's attention.
"I have to focus on my work."
2
To cause (rays of light, etc) to converge at a single point.
3
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."
4
To concentrate one’s attention.
"If you're going to beat your competitors, you need to focus."

🔄 Synonyms of "Focus"

13 synonyms found via WordNet and Google Books.

Word	Definition
nidusnoun	A place of infection in an organism.
stressnoun	(uncountable) Emotional pressure suffered by a human being or other animal.
concentrateverb	(intransitive) To focus one's thought or attention (on).
centrenoun	Australia, British, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and South Africa standard spelling of center.
focal pointnoun	The centre of any activity.
porenoun	A tiny opening in the skin.
sharpenverb	(transitive, sometimes figurative) To make sharp.
centeringnoun	(chiefly uncountable) The process of moving something to a centre, normally before some other process.
focusingnoun	The action or concentration of attention or energy on something.
concenterverb	(American spelling, dated) Alternative spelling of concentre. [(intransitive) To come together at a common centre.]
focussingnoun	(Commonwealth) Alternative spelling of focusing. [The action or concentration of attention or energy on something.]
centernoun	The point in the interior of a circle that is equidistant from all points on the circumference.
rivetnoun	A cylindrical mechanical fastener which is supplied with a factory head at one end and is used to attach multiple parts together by passing its bucktail through a hole and upsetting its end to form a field head.

↔️ Antonyms of "Focus"

Words with the opposite meaning.

Word	Definition
dimnoun	Not bright or colorful.
slurnoun	An extremely offensive and socially unacceptable term targeted at a group of people (such as an ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc.).
blearverb	(of eyes or vision) Dim; unclear from water or rheum.
blurnoun	To make indistinct or hazy, to obscure or dim.

💡 Words with a Similar Meaning to "Focus"

Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.

Word	Definition
focal pointnoun	The centre of any activity.
centernoun	The point in the interior of a circle that is equidistant from all points on the circumference.
concenterverb	(American spelling, dated) Alternative spelling of concentre. [(intransitive) To come together at a common centre.]
porenoun	A tiny opening in the skin.
centrenoun	Australia, British, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and South Africa standard spelling of center.
centeringnoun	(chiefly uncountable) The process of moving something to a centre, normally before some other process.
sharpenverb	(transitive, sometimes figurative) To make sharp.
concentrateverb	(intransitive) To focus one's thought or attention (on).
rivetnoun	A cylindrical mechanical fastener which is supplied with a factory head at one end and is used to attach multiple parts together by passing its bucktail through a hole and upsetting its end to form a field head.
nidusnoun	A place of infection in an organism.
stressnoun	(uncountable) Emotional pressure suffered by a human being or other animal.
periscopenoun	A form of viewing device that allows the viewer to see things at a different height level and usually with minimal visibility.
lensnoun	(optics) An object, usually made of glass, that focuses or defocuses the light that passes through it.
reflectionnoun	The act of reflecting or the state of being reflected.
reflective	Pondering, especially thinking back on the past.
reflectverb	(intransitive) To think seriously; to ponder or consider.
reflexionnoun	(grammar, linguistics) An act or instance of referring back to the subject of a sentence, or of having an object equal to the subject.
polarizeverb	(transitive, US) To cause a group to be divided into extremes.
polarizationnoun	(sociology) The grouping of opinions into two extremes.
microscopenoun	An optical instrument used for observing small objects.