What are focus?

  • (noun): A fixed reference point on the concave side of a conic section.
    See also — Additional definitions below

More definitions of "focus":

  • (noun): A central point or locus of an infection in an organism.
    Example: "The focus of infection"
    Synonyms: focal point, nidus
  • (noun): Special emphasis attached to something.
    Synonyms: stress
  • (noun): Maximum clarity or distinctness of an idea.
    Example: "The controversy brought clearly into focus an important difference of opinion"
  • (verb): Cause to converge on or toward a central point.
    Example: "Focus the light on this image"
  • (noun): A point of convergence of light (or other radiation) or a point from which it diverges.
    Synonyms: focal point
  • (noun): Maximum clarity or distinctness of an image rendered by an optical system.
    Example: "In focus"; "out of focus"
  • (noun): The concentration of attention or energy on something.
    Example: "The focus of activity shifted to molecular biology"
    Synonyms: focusing, focussing, direction, centering

Famous quotes containing the word focus:

    I don’t have any doubts that there will be a place for progressive white people in this country in the future. I think the paranoia common among white people is very unfounded. I have always organized my life so that I could focus on political work. That’s all I want to do, and that’s all that makes me happy.
    Hettie V., South African white anti-apartheid activist and feminist. As quoted in Lives of Courage, ch. 21, by Diana E. H. Russell (1989)

    It’s sad but true that if you focus your attention on housework and meal preparation and diapers, raising children does start to look like drudgery pretty quickly. On the other hand, if you see yourself as nothing less than your child’s nurturer, role model, teacher, spiritual guide, and mentor, your days take on a very different cast.
    Joyce Maynard (20th century)

    No other group in America has so had their identity socialized out of existence as have black women.... When black people are talked about the focus tends to be on black men; and when women are talked about the focus tends to be on white women.
    bell hooks (b. c. 1955)