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focus
fo·cus / ˈfōkəs/ • n. (pl. fo·cus·es or fo·ci / ˈfōˌsī; -ˌkī/ ) 1. the center of interest or activity: this generation has made the environment a focus of attention. ∎ an act of concentrating interest or activity on something: our focus on the customer's requirements. ∎ Geol. the point of origin of an earthquake. Compare with epicenter. ∎ Med. the principal site of an infection or other disease. ∎ Linguistics the part of a sentence given prominence, usually for emphasis or contrast, e.g., Bob in it was Bob who came, not Bill.Compare with rheme. 2. the state or quality of having or producing clear visual definition: his face is rather out of focus. ∎ 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. ∎ a device on a lens that can be adjusted to produce a clear image. 3. Geom. one of the fixed points from which the distances to any point of a given curve, such as an ellipse or parabola, are connected by a linear relation. • v. (fo·cused, fo·cus·ing or fo·cussed, fo·cus·sing) [intr.] 1. (of a person or their eyes) adapt to the prevailing level of light and become able to see clearly: try to focus on a stationary object. ∎ [tr.] bring (one's eyes) into such a state: trying to focus his bleary eyes on Corbett. ∎ [tr.] adjust the focus of (a telescope, camera, or other instrument): they were focusing a telescope on a star. ∎ (of rays or waves) meet at a single point. ∎ [tr.] (of a lens) make (rays or waves) meet at a single point. ∎ [intr.] (of light, radio waves, or other energy) become concentrated into a sharp beam of light or energy. ∎ [tr.] (of a lens) concentrate (light, radio waves, or energy) into a sharp beam. 2. (focus on) pay particular attention to: the study will focus on a number of areas in Wales. ∎ [tr.] concentrate: the course helps to focus and stimulate your thoughts. ∎ [tr.] Linguistics place the focus on (a part of a sentence). DERIVATIVES: fo·cus·er n. |
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"focus." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "focus." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-focus.html "focus." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-focus.html |
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focus
focus in optics, the point at which rays converge after reflection by a concave mirror or refraction by a convex lens , also known as a real focus. The point from which rays appear to diverge after reflection by a convex mirror or refraction by a concave lens is known as a virtual focus. See image . |
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"focus." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "focus." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-focus.html "focus." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-focus.html |
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focus
focus point toward which lines, rays, etc. converge XVII; point at which an object must be situated so that a well-defined image of it may be produced by the lens; centre of activity XVIII. — L. focus fire-place, domestic hearth.
So focal XVIII. |
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T. F. HOAD. "focus." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "focus." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-focus.html T. F. HOAD. "focus." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-focus.html |
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focus
focus (foh-kŭs)
1. n. the point at which rays of light converge after passing through a lens. 2. n. the principal site of an infection or other disease. 3. vb. (in ophthalmology) to accommodate (see accommodation). |
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"focus." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "focus." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-focus.html "focus." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-focus.html |
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focus
focus (of earthquake) See HYPOCENTRE.
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AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "focus." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "focus." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-focus.html AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "focus." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-focus.html |
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focus
focus
•Bacchus, Caracas, Gracchus
•Damascus
•Aristarchus, carcass, Hipparchus, Marcus
•discus, hibiscus, meniscus, viscous
•umbilicus • Copernicus
•Ecclesiasticus • Leviticus • floccus
•caucus, Dorcas, glaucous, raucous
•Archilochus, Cocos, crocus, focus, hocus, hocus-pocus, locus
•autofocus
•fucus, Lucas, mucous, mucus, Ophiuchus, soukous
•ruckus • fuscous • abacus
•diplodocus • Telemachus
•Callimachus • Caratacus • Spartacus
•circus
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"focus." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "focus." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-focus.html "focus." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-focus.html |
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FOCUS
FOCUS (ˈfəʊkəs) Focus on Computing in the United States
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FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH. "FOCUS." The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH. "FOCUS." The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O25-FOCUS.html FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH. "FOCUS." The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations. 1998. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O25-FOCUS.html |
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