Noun: focus (foci,focuses)  fow-kus

1. The concentration of attention or energy on something
   "the focus of activity shifted to molecular biology";
   - focusing, focussing, focal point, direction, centering [US], centring [Brit, Cdn]
    
2. Special emphasis attached to something
   "the focus was more on accuracy than on speed";
   - stress
    
3. Maximum clarity or distinctness of an idea
   "the controversy brought clearly into focus an important difference of opinion"
    
4. Maximum clarity or distinctness of an image rendered by an optical system
   "in focus"; "out of focus"
    
5. A point of convergence of light (or other radiation) or a point from which it diverges
   "The lens brought the light rays to a sharp focus";
   - focal point
    
6. A central point or locus of an infection in an organism
   "the focus of infection";
   - focal point, nidus
    
7. A fixed reference point on the concave side of a conic section
   "The mathematician calculated the focus of the ellipse"
    
8. (computing) the active element in a user interface, typically where user input will appear on screen
   "when you click a text box, it gets the input focus"

Verb: focus (focused,focusing,focuses, also focussed,focussing,focusses)  fow-kus

1. Hold attention and exert mental effort on something
   "Please focus on your studies and not on your hobbies";
   - concentrate, center [US], centre [Brit, Cdn], pore, rivet, pore over
    
2. [Brit] Bring into focus or alignment; to converge or cause to converge; of ideas or emotions
   "The team worked to focus their efforts on the most pressing issues";
   - concenter [US], concentre [Brit, Cdn], focalize, focalise [Brit]
    
3. Put (an image) into focus
   "Please focus the image: we cannot enjoy the movie";
   - focalize, focalise [Brit], sharpen
    
4. Become focussed or come into focus
   "The light focused";
   - focalize, focalise [Brit]
    
5. Cause to converge on or toward a central point
   "Focus the light on this image"

Derived forms: foci, focuses, focused, focusing, focusses

Type of: absorption, accent, adapt, adjust, align, aline [non-standard], cerebrate, clarity, clearness, cogitate, concentration, conform, correct, distinctness, emphasis, engrossment, immersion, limpidity, line up, lucidity, lucidness, pellucidity, point, set, sharpen, sharpness, think

Part of: focal infection

Encyclopedia: Focus