Aim vs. Focus — What's the Difference?

Point or direct (a weapon or camera) at a target

The centre of interest or activity

Have the intention of achieving

The state or quality of having or producing clear visual definition

A purpose or intention; a desired outcome

One of the fixed points from which the distances to any point of a given curve, such as an ellipse or parabola, are connected by a linear relation.

The directing of a weapon or missile at a target

An element of a sentence that is given prominence by intonational or other means.

To direct (a weapon or camera) toward a point.

Adapt to the prevailing level of light and become able to see clearly

To direct or propel (an object, such as a ball) toward a point

Pay particular attention to

To direct toward or intend for a particular goal or group

Place the focus on (an element of a sentence).

To direct a weapon or camera

The distinctness or clarity of an image rendered by an optical system.

To direct or propel an object toward a point

The state of maximum distinctness or clarity of such an image

To determine a course or direct an effort

An apparatus used to adjust the focal length of an optical system in order to make an image distinct or clear

To propose to do something; intend

A point at which rays of light or other radiation converge or from which they appear to diverge, as after refraction or reflection in an optical system

The act of aiming

See focal length.

The ability to hit a target or intended point

A center of interest or activity

The degree of accuracy of a weapon or of a person aiming a weapon or propelled object

Close or narrow attention; concentration

A purpose or intention toward which one's efforts are directed

A condition in which something can be clearly apprehended or perceived

The pointing of a weapon, as a gun, a dart, or an arrow, or object, in the line of direction with the object intended to be struck; the line of fire; the direction of anything, such as a spear, a blow, a discourse, a remark, towards a particular point or object, with a view to strike or affect it.

(Medicine) The region of a localized bodily infection or disease.

The point intended to be hit, or object intended to be attained or affected.

(Geology) The point of origin of an earthquake.

Intention or goal

(Mathematics) A fixed point whose relationship with a directrix determines a conic section.

The ability of someone to aim straight; one's faculty for being able to hit a physical target

To cause (light rays, for example) to converge on or toward a central point; concentrate.

(obsolete) Conjecture; guess.

To render (an object or image) in clear outline or sharp detail by adjustment of one's vision or an optical device; bring into focus.

(intransitive) To point or direct a missile, or a weapon which propels as missile, towards an object or spot with the intent of hitting it

To adjust (a lens, for example) to produce a clear image.

(intransitive) To direct the intention or purpose; to attempt the accomplishment of a purpose; to try to gain; to endeavor;—followed by at, or by an infinitive

To direct toward a particular point or purpose

(transitive) To direct or point (e.g. a weapon), at a particular object; to direct, as a missile, an act, or a proceeding, at, to, or against an object

To converge on or toward a central point of focus; be focused.

(transitive) To direct (something verbal) towards a certain person, thing, or group

To adjust one's vision or an optical device so as to render a clear, distinct image.

To guess or conjecture.

To concentrate attention or energy

To point or direct a missile weapon, or a weapon which propels as missile, towards an object or spot with the intent of hitting it; as, to aim at a fox, or at a target.

A point at which reflected or refracted rays of light converge.

To direct the indention or purpose; to attempt the accomplishment of a purpose; to try to gain; to endeavor; - followed by at, or by an infinitive; as, to aim at distinction; to aim to do well.

A point of a conic at which rays reflected from a curve or surface converge.

To guess or conjecture.

The fact of the convergence of light on the photographic medium.

To direct or point, as a weapon, at a particular object; to direct, as a missile, an act, or a proceeding, at, to, or against an object; as, to aim a musket or an arrow, the fist or a blow (at something); to aim a satire or a reflection (at some person or vice).

The quality of the convergence of light on the photographic medium.

The pointing of a weapon, as a gun, a dart, or an arrow, in the line of direction with the object intended to be struck; the line of fire; the direction of anything, as a spear, a blow, a discourse, a remark, towards a particular point or object, with a view to strike or affect it.

(uncountable) Concentration of attention.

The point intended to be hit, or object intended to be attained or affected.

The exact point of where an earthquake occurs, in three dimensions (underneath the epicentre).

Intention; purpose; design; scheme.

(GUI) The status of being the currently active element in a user interface, often indicated by a visual highlight.

Conjecture; guess.

(linguistics) The most important word or phrase in a sentence or passage, or the one that imparts information.

An anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions;

An object used in casting a magic spell.

The goal intended to be attained (and which is believed to be attainable);

To concentrate during a task.

The action of directing something at an object;

(transitive) To direct attention, effort, or energy to a particular audience or task.

The direction or path along which something moves or along which it lies

(transitive) To cause (rays of light, etc) to converge at a single point.

Aim or direct at; as of blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment;

(transitive) To adjust (a lens, an optical instrument) in order to position an image with respect to the focal plane.

Propose or intend;

(intransitive) To concentrate one’s attention.

Move into a desired direction of discourse;

To transfer the input focus to (a visual element), so that it receives subsequent input.

Specifically design a product, event, or activity for a certain public

To aggregate figures of accounts.

Intend (something) to move towards a certain goal;

A point in which the rays of light meet, after being reflected or refracted, and at which the image is formed; as, the focus of a lens or mirror.

Direct (a remark) toward an intended goal;

A point so related to a conic section and certain straight line called the directrix that the ratio of the distance between any point of the curve and the focus to the distance of the same point from the directrix is constant.

Have an ambitious plan or a lofty goal

A central point; a point of concentration.

To bring to a focus; to focalize; as, to focus a camera.

The concentration of attention or energy on something;

Maximum clarity or distinctness of an image rendered by an optical system;

Maximum clarity or distinctness of an idea;

A central point or locus of an infection in an organism;

Special emphasis attached to something;

A point of convergence of light (or other radiation) or a point from which it diverges

A fixed reference point on the concave side of a conic section

Direct one's attention on something;

Cause to converge on or toward a central point;

Bring into focus or alignment; to converge or cause to converge; of ideas or emotions

Become focussed or come into focus;

Put (an image) into focus;