26984 words

focusing

18 definitions • 29 examples
1
the main or central point of something, especially of attention or interest:

Examples:

focus of attention I think Dave likes to be the focus of attention.
focus of interest The main focus of interest at the fashion show was Christian Lacroix's outrageous evening wear.
There was a lot of focus on exam results at my school.
2
careful attention that is given to something such as a task, or the ability to give your full attention to something:

Examples:

lose focus In my over-confidence I lost focus and conceded a point.
Performing such a long piece, it's a challenge just to keep your focus.
mental focus Yoga is less about fitness and more about mental focus.
3
(in physics) the point where waves of light or sound that are moving towards each other meet:

Examples:

the focus of a lens
4
used to say that a photograph or video is clear/not clear:

Examples:

Make sure the image is in focus.
5
If you focus a device such as a camera or microscope, or if it focuses, a device on the lens moves so that you can see a clear picture:

Examples:

focus something on something She focused her camera on a tiny insect.
The camera is slow to focus in low light.
6
If you focus your eyes, or if your eyes focus, you try to look directly at an object so that you can see it more clearly:

Examples:

When they first took the bandages off, she/her eyes couldn't focus properly (= she couldn't see clearly).
7
to direct light waves, sound waves, etc. at a particular point:

Examples:

focus something on something The human eye has a lens to focus light on the retina.
He designed a transmitter that could focus radio waves of different frequencies on tumours.
be focused on During an ultrasound scan, sound waves are focused on the body and scanned by a computer.
8
to give your full attention to what you are doing or to what is happening:

Examples:

I'm finding it hard to focus today.
I know it's noisy in here, but try to focus.
9
the main object or interest, or the attention given something:
10
the exact place or position where beams of light, heat, or sound meet after moving toward each other; focal point
11
A focus is also the exact position inside the earth where an earthquake begins.
12
A photograph or an image seen through a device with a lens, such as a microscope, telescope, or camera, that is in focus is clear and one that is out of focus is not clear.
13
to direct attention toward something or someone:

Examples:

[ I ] Tonight’s program focuses on homelessness.
14
to adjust something in order to see more clearly:

Examples:

[ T ] I focused the binoculars on the bird on a branch of the tree.
15
the central or most important thing for a company or organization:

Examples:

the main/primary/principal focus of sb/sth The primary focus of a manager is on efficiency.
turn/switch/shift the focus from sth to sth A bonus-based incentive system shifts the focus from the behavior of sales people to the results they deliver.
focus on sth The company's Five-Year Plan continues the dual focus on use and production.
17
the ability to give all your attention, time, and energy to a particular activity:

Examples:

The enquiry concluded that the failure to address the issue beforehand was the result of a lack of focus and drive by the board.
18
to give a lot of attention, time, energy, etc. to one particular group of customers or a particular activity:

Examples:

focus on sth The company's chief executive is moving to a new corporate headquarters in Dubai to focus on business in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Asia.
focus entirely/exclusively/mainly on sth By the age of 30, he had decided to focus almost exclusively on corporate work.

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