| Part of Speech | Definition | |
| Verb | 1. To collect, muster or foregather.
[Eve - graph theoretic] 2. To compress or clench. [Eve - graph theoretic] 3. To adjust or straighten.[Eve - graph theoretic] | |
| Verb Present Tense | 1. Present tense conjugation of the verb focus.[Eve - graph theoretic] | |
| Verb Base (focus) | 1. Direct one's attention on something; "Please focus on your studies and not on your hobbies".[Wordnet]. 2. Cause to converge on or toward a central point; "Focus the light on this image".[Wordnet]. 3. Bring into focus or alignment; to converge or cause to converge; of ideas or emotions.[Wordnet]. 4. Become focussed or come into focus; "The light focused".[Wordnet]. 5. Put (an image) into focus; "Please focus the image; we cannot enjoy the movie".[Wordnet]. 6. To bring to a focus; to focalize; as, to focus a camera.[Websters]. 7. To sprout or appear.[Eve - graph theoretic] 8. Base verb from the following inflections: focusing, focused, focuses, focuser, focusers, focusingly and focusedly.[Eve - graph theoretic] | |
| Noun Plural | 1. Plural inflection of the noun focus.[Eve - graph theoretic] | |
| Noun Base (focus) | 1. The concentration of attention or energy on something; "the focus of activity shifted to molecular biology".[Wordnet]. 2. Maximum clarity or distinctness of an image rendered by an optical system; "in focus"; "out of focus".[Wordnet]. 3. Maximum clarity or distinctness of an idea; "the controversy brought clearly into focus an important difference of opinion".[Wordnet]. 4. A central point or locus of an infection in an organism; "the focus of infection".[Wordnet]. 5. Special emphasis attached to something.[Wordnet]. 6. A point of convergence of light (or other radiation) or a point from which it diverges.[Wordnet]. 7. A fixed reference point on the concave side of a conic section.[Wordnet]. 8. A point in which the rays of light meet, after being reflected or refrcted, and at which the image is formed; as, the focus of a lens or mirror.[Websters]. 9. A point so related to a conic section and certain straight line called the directrix that the ratio of the distace between any point of the curve and the focus to the distance of the same point from the directrix is constant.[Websters]. 10. A central point; a point of concentration.[Websters]. | |
Sources: compiled from various sources, (under license) copyright 2008. | Top | |
Date "FOCUSES" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1828. (references) |
Specialty Definition: focus
| Domain | Definition | ||
| Computing | FOCUS | ||
| Noah Webster | 1: [Noun] plu. focuses, or foci.. | 2: [Noun] In optics, a point in which any number of rays of light meet, after being reflected or refracted; as the focus of a lens.. | 3: [Noun] In geometry and conic sections, a certain point in the parabola, ellipsis and hyperbola, where rays reflected from all parts of these curves, concur or meet. The focus of an ellipsis, is a point towards each end of the longer axis, from which two right lines drawn to any point in the circumference, shall together be equal to the longer axis. The focus of a parabola, is a point in the axis within the figure, and distant from the vertex by the fourth part of the parameter. The focus of a hyperbola, is a point in the principal axis, within the opposite hyperbolas, from which if any two lines are drawn, meeting in either of the opposite hyperbolas, the difference will be equal to the principal axis.. Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary. |
| Aerospace | 1: 1. That point at which parallel rays of light meet after being refracted by a lens or reflected by a mirror. Also called focal point.2. A point having specific significance relative to a geometrical figure. See ellipse, hyperbola, parabola. Plural focuses. (references) | 2: Singular for foci. (references) | 3: To adjust the eye or a lens in order to make a clear image. (references) |
| Antiquities | Focus dim. FocÅlus (hestia: eschara, escharis, dim. escharion). A fireplace; a hearth; a brazier. The fireplace, while serving all the requirements of ordinary life, possessed a sacred character both among the Greeks and Romans. In the primitive Greek house the eschara stood against, or near, the back wall of the megaron, the kitchen and living room of the family; in the more spacious dwellings of a later age it was transferred, with other objects of domestic worship, to a small private chapel, vaulted so as to resemble the Tholos, the dome-shaped hestia of the State. The well-known use of the hearth as a sanctuary for suppliants occurs as early as Homer (Od. vii. 153-169). See Domus. Among the Romans the fireplace was dedicated to the Lares of each family (Plaut. Aul. ii. 8 Aul., 16); a consecration which did not interfere with its homely uses. On festivals the housewife decorated the hearth with garlands (Ovid, Trist. v. 5, 10); a woollen fillet was sometimes added, nor were animal sacrifices unknown (Propert. v. 6, 1-6). The phrase pro aris et focis expressed attachment to all that was most dear and venerable (Cic. N. D. iii. 40. 94). At Rome, too, the progress of wealth and refinement led to the removal of the focus and Penates to an inner apartment (Marquardt, Privatl. 234). In the Pompeian houses we see the atrium, now become a reception-room, adorned with a fountain and a marble table (cartibulum), but no longer with a hearth. See Lararium. The focus was usually a fixture, constructed of stone or brick, and elevated a few inches above the ground. It was also frequently made of bronze, variously ornamented, and could then be carried from room to room. The small portable brazier or chafing-dish, called foculus or escharion, was especially used in sacrifices; and the same name was applied to the hollow or fire-pan at the top of an altar (Livy, ii. 12; Pro Domo, 47. 123; see Ara). The movable focus or foculus was also employed in the kitchen (Plaut. Capt. iv. 2 Capt., 68; Juv. iii. 262), and for keeping things hot was brought into the dining room (Plin. Ep. 78. 23). See Caldarium. (references) | ||
| Business | 1. The point at which light rays or an electron beam form a minimum size spot, thus producing the sharpest image. 2. The process of concentrating light or electron beams to a fine spot. (references) | ||
| Computing | Element of a facet. Source: European Union. (references) | ||
| Electrical Engineering | 1: The ability of a recording or pair of speakers to keep sound-stage images, especially those in the central area, properly sized and positioned. Source: European Union. (references) | 2: The maximum convergence of the electron beam manifested by the minimum spot size on the phosphor screen. Source: European Union. (references) | 3: The point at which a pencil of rays or their prolongations can be made to meet after reflection or refraction. Source: European Union. (references) |
| Environment | 1: Fisheries Oceanography Cooperative Users System. (references) | 2: The point toward which rays of light converge to form an image after passing through a lens or reflecting from a mirror. Also defined as the condition of sharpest imagery. See DEPTH OF FOCUS. (references) | |
| Geological | 1: That point within the Earth from which originates the first motion of an earthquake and its elastic waves. (references) | 2: The location where an earthquake begins. Rock ruptures at this spot, then seismic waves radiate outward in all directions. (references) | |
| Geology | 1: See hypocenter. (references) | 2: The initial point within the Earth that ruptures in an earthquake, directly below the epicenter. (references) | |
| Information | A class or isolate in the context of a facet. Source: European Union. (references) | ||
| Language | To cause to be concentrated (the crime focused public attention on the problem of parole). Source: European Union. (references) | ||
| Library Science | Focus. American Geographical Society. New York, N.Y. (references) | ||
| Mining | A. The initial rupture point of an earthquake, where strain energy is first converted to elastic wave energy; the point within the Earth which is the center of an earthquake. Syn:hypocenter b. The point at which rays of light converge to form an image after passing through a lens or optical system or after reflection by a mirro. (references) | ||
| Physics | 1: Center of gravity of the distribution of electrons focused on the target area. Source: European Union. (references) | 2: Frontier Optical Coherent Ultrafast Center. (references) | |
| Public Administration | In seismology, the underground point of origin of an earthquake. Source: European Union. (references) | ||
| Science | The center of an earthquake where rupture begins. (references) | ||
| Technology | Flexible Optical Control Unit Stimulator. (references) | ||
| Wikipedic | FOCUS is a software product of Information Builders Inc. Originally developed for data handling and analysis on the IBM mainframe, as newer systems were developed and smaller computers became more powerful, the available platforms for FOCUS were extended all the way down to personal computers and in 1997, to the Web in the WebFOCUS product. (references) | ||
| Wiktionary | 1: [Noun] (countable) the exact point of where an earthquake occurs, in three dimensions. The earthquake's focus was at exactly 37 degrees north, 18 degrees south, seventy five meters below the ground. (references) | 2: [Noun] (countable, geometry) a point of a conic at which rays reflected from a curve or surface converge. (references) | 3: [Noun] (countable, optics) 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. (references) | 4: [Noun] (uncountable) concentration of attention. I believe I can bring the high degree of focus required for this important job. (references) | 5: [Noun] (uncountable, photography, cinematography) The fact of the convergence of light on the photographic medium. Unfortunately, the license plate is out of focus in this image. (references) | 6: [Noun] (uncountable, photography, cinematography) 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. (references) | 7: [Verb] (intransitive) To concentrate one's attention. If you're going to beat your competitors, you need to focus. (references) | 8: [Verb] (transitive) 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. (references) | 9: [Verb] (transitive) To cause (rays of light, etc) to converge at a single point. (references) | 10: [Verb] (transitive) To make (a liquid) less diluted. (references) | 11: [Verb] (transitive, followed by on or upon) To concentrate one's attention. Focus on passing the test. (references) |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | Top | ||
Common Expressions: focus
| Expressions | Definition | ||
| AGM-87 Focus | The AGM-87 Focus is a missile developed by the United States of America. (references) | ||
| Child Focus | Child Focus is the common name of the European Center for Missing and Sexually Exploited Children. (references) | ||
| Conjugate focus | (Opt.), the focus for rays which have a sensible divergence, as from a near object; -- so called because the positions of the object and its image are interchangeable. Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary. | ||
| Critical focus | In a photograph, the area of critical focus is the portion of the picture that appears to be in focus. This can be adjusted by adjusting the aperture of the camera. For example, a camera on f/22 has a far larger depth span in focus than a camera set on f/2.8. (references) | ||
| DC Focus | DC Focus was a short-lived imprint of DC Comics. It was established in 2004, presumably to capture some of the readers from then-recently-defunct Crossgen Comics. The titles published under this imprint featured super-powered characters who didn't follow the trappings and traditions of classic superhero adventures. Most titles failed to generate significant sales, forcing DC Comics to cancel them. Today, only Hard Time is still being published. Although it is published under DC Focus banner, the imprint seems to be defunct. (references) | ||
| Deep focus | Deep focus is a photographic and cinematographic technique incorporating a large depth-of-field. Depth-of-field is the front-to-back range of focus in an image — that is, how much of it appears sharp and clear. Consequently, in deep focus the foreground, middle-ground and background are all in focus. (references) | ||
| Deep focus earthquake | A deep focus earthquake is an earthquake that occurs at depths of 600 to 700 km beneath the Earth's surface. Their cause is still not entirely understood since subducted lithosphere at that pressure and temperature regime should not exhibit brittle behavior. They are believed to be associated with a catastrophic phase change as large portions of slab or slab-entrained material convert from a spinel structure to a more compact perovskite structure. (references) | ||
| Dense Plasma Focus | The Dense Plasma Focus (DPF) is a plasma machine that produces, by electromagnetic acceleration and compression, short-lived plasma that is so hot and dense that it becomes a copious multi-radiation source. Intense bursts of x-rays and charged particles are emitted as are nuclear fusion neutrons when operated in deuterium. There is ongoing research [http://www.nsse.nie.edu.sg/research/plasmaphysics/prsl.htm NTU/NIE]that demonstrates potential applications as a soft x-ray source for next generation microelectronics lithography, surface micromachining, pulsed x-ray and neutron source for medical and security inspection applications and materials modification, among others. (references) | ||
| Focus (board game) | Focus is an abstract strategy board game, designed by Sid Sackson and published in 1964 by Kosmos. The game has been re-published many times since, sometimes under the titles Domination or Dominio. Focus won the 1981 Spiel des Jahres and Essen Feather awards. The game appears in Sackson's A Gamut of Games in the section New Battles on an Old Battlefield. (references) | ||
| Focus (computing) | In computing, the focus is the component of the graphical user interface which is currently selected. Text entered at the keyboard or pasted from a clipboard is sent to the component which currently has the focus. (references) | ||
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | Top | ||
Specialty Expressions: focus
| Expressions | Domain | Definition | |
| Back focus | Business | The distance from the rear nodal point of a lens to the focal point. (references) | |
| Critical focus | Business | The point at which a lens gives the sharpest reproduction of a subject. (references) | |
| Customer Focus | Military | A general competency defined as working with clients, customers, and partners to accurately assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their requirements; being knowledgeable of and committed to providing quality products and/or services. (references) | |
| Dense Plasma Focus | Physics | See Plasma Focus. (Densities of up to 10^26 particles/m^3 have been reported). (references) | |
| Depth of focus | Business | A value that defines the area between the lens and image plane where the image can be sharply focused. (references) | |
| Depth of focus | Environment | The range of image distances (lens to object) within which the images formed by a lens, on a given surface, have acceptable sharpness. In photogrammetry it defines the range through which the projection distance of a photogrammetric projector can be varied while preserving satisfactory image detail in the stereoscopic model. (references) | |
| Depth of focus | Mining | Depth of an earthquake or explosion below the Earth's surface. (references) | |
| Ectopic focus | Medicine | Myocardial area which becomes more excitable than due and discharges an impulse, thus provoking a premature beat [VE1]. Source: European Union. (references) | |
| Focus (plural foci) | Mining | The precise point within the Earth's crust or mantle where rocks begin to rupture or move in an earthquake. (references) | |
| Focus Area | Military | That area of the CINC's AOR identified by the commander for the SJFHQ to focus their efforts in ONA development, based on ambiguous indications of potential crisis. (references) | |
| Focus control | Business | In video, the control that adjusts the electron beam of a picture or pickup tube to the narrowest possible beam. This helps to produce a detailed image. (references) | |
| Focus group | Computing | ||
| Focus group | Computing | A selected consumer or business group having a particular socio-economic profile, used for market research purposes. Source: European Union. (references) | |
| Focus group | Family | A group of 7-10 people convened for the purpose of obtaining perceptions or opinions, suggesting ideas, or recommending actions. A focus group is a method of collecting data for evaluation purposes. (references) | |
| Focus group | Women | Means a gathering of Federal government employees to discuss results and improvements of programs in the field. The focus group should follow a prepared agenda, be led by an expert in the subject matter, and serve to educate the Federal employees. (references) | |
| Focus group/column | Aerospace | The column of the process grid that has been selected for viewing in the text area to its right. (references) | |
| Focus Groups | Health | A method of data collection and a qualitative research tool in which a small group of individuals are brought together and allowed to interact in a discussion of their opinions about topics, issues, or questions. (references) | |
| Focus of attention | Computing | Control strategy which directs attention to the essential aspects of a choice while ignoring irrelevant details. Source: European Union. (references) | |
| Focus of attention | Post & Telecom | Method of coordinating the choice of which phrases to expand next in a speech understanding system by singling out a particular part of the parse net, until another area looks more promising. Source: European Union. (references) | |
| Focus process | Aerospace | The single process that has been selected in the process grid for detailed examination. (references) | |
| Focus to image receptor distance | Physics | Distance from the reference plane of an effective focal spot to the point at which the reference axis intersects with the image receptor plane. Source: European Union. (references) | |
| Input focus | Aerospace | The notion that only one window and usually only one object in a window at a time is capable of accepting input from a pointing device or the keyboard. (references) | |
| Mechanical focus | Business | The focusing of a camera lens or tube by non-automatic means, such as a cable and gear arrangement. (references) | |
| Plasma Focus | Physics | 1: The Plasma Focus is another device which depends on the pinch effect. Possible applications include both fusion and plasma propulsion, as well as other plasma research. In essence the plasma focus is generated by discharge of a current across the ends of two coaxial insulated conducting pipes. The Plasma Focus caused a huge stir when they generated copious neutrons, until it was discovered that the source of the neutrons was knockoffs from deuterium due to pinch accelerated electrons or ions. Plasma focus is sort of a point version of the "Z" pinch. (references) | |
| 2: The Plasma Focus is a device which depends on the pinch effect. Possible applications include both fusion and plasma propulsion, as well as other plasma research. In essence the plasma focus is generated by discharge of a current across the ends of two coaxial insulated conducting pipes. The Plasma Focus caused a huge stir when they generated copious neutrons, until it was discovered that the neutrons were produced by knockoffs from deuterium ions rather than fusion reactions. (references) | |||
| Seismic focus | Mining | The place of origin within the Earth of an earthquake; usually some more or less restricted area of a fault surface. If the focus is to be some particular point, it is the central point of the area over which faultmovement occurred and caused the earthquake. (references) | |
| Variable focus lens | Industry | Lens of variable focal length which can be adjusted continuously by the movement of one or more groups of elements in the lens system. Source: European Union. (references) | |
| Volcanic focus | Mining | The subterranean seat or center of volcanism of a region or of a volcano. (references) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | Top | ||
Abbreviations & Acronyms: focus
| The following table is compiled from various sources, across various languages. When English abbreviations or acronyms come from a non-English source, this is noted. | ||||
| Entry | Source | Expression | Field | |
| FOCUS | English | Facility for On-Line Computations and Up-dating Services | N/A | |
| Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | Top | |||
