focus
3 ENTRIES FOUND:
Britannica Dictionary definition of FOCUS
1
[count]
:
a subject that is being discussed or studied
:
the subject on which people's attention is focused
— usually singular
-
The focus of our discussion/debate/attention will be drug abuse.
-
The scandal became the primary focus of the day's news coverage.
-
The study's main focus is adults with sleep disorders.
2
:
a main purpose or interest
[noncount]
-
He's successful, but he feels that his life lacks focus.
[singular]
-
His life lacks a focus.
3
[count]
technical
:
a point at which rays of light, heat, or sound meet or from which they move apart or appear to move apart
especially
:
the point at which an image is formed by a mirror, a lens, etc.
4
[noncount]
a
:
a state in which something (such as a camera, a telescope, or a person's eyes) produces a clear picture or image
-
bringing the binoculars into focus [=focusing the binoculars; adjusting the binoculars so that the image seen through them is clear and sharp]
-
It took him a few seconds after he woke up to bring his eyes into focus. [=to focus his eyes]
-
The binoculars were not in focus. = The binoculars were out of focus. [=the binoculars were not focused]
b
:
a state in which the small details of a picture or image can be clearly seen
—
see also soft focus
-
It was a nice picture—the family was in focus and everyone was smiling.
-
Unfortunately, several of the pictures were out of focus.
c
:
a state or condition in which something can be clearly understood
-
She tried to bring the important issues into focus. [=she tried to say clearly what the important issues were]
2
focus
/ˈfoʊkəs/
verb
focuses
also
focusses;
focused
also
focussed;
focusing
also
focussing
2
focus
/ˈfoʊkəs/
verb
focuses
also
focusses;
focused
also
focussed;
focusing
also
focussing
Britannica Dictionary definition of FOCUS
1
[+ object]
:
to cause (something, such as attention) to be directed at something specific
— + on
-
The crime has focused public attention on the problem of parole.
-
We need to focus our efforts on getting the work done.
2
[no object]
:
to direct your attention or effort at something specific
— often + on
-
She has an amazing ability to focus for hours at a time.
-
We need to focus on getting the work done.
-
The day's news coverage focused primarily/mainly on the scandal.
3
:
to adjust (something, such as a lens or a camera) to make an image clear
[+ object]
-
focus a telescope
-
I wasn't able to focus the camera.
-
He focused his binoculars on a distant ship. [=he looked through his binoculars at a distant ship]
[no object]
-
I wasn't able to get the camera to focus.
◊ If you focus your eyes on something or if your eyes focus on something, you look at that thing so that you can see it clearly.
-
Everyone focused their eyes on her [=everyone looked at her] when she entered the room.
-
His eyes were focused on the road. = He kept his eyes focused on the road.
4
technical
:
to cause (light) to come together at a point
[+ object]
-
focus rays of light
[no object]
-
laser beams that focus at a single point
