Focus vs. Purpose

Focusnoun

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.’;

Purposenoun

An object to be reached; a target; an aim; a goal. "purpose".

Focusnoun

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

Purposenoun

A result that is desired; an intention.

Focusnoun

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

‘Unfortunately, the license plate is out of focus in this image.’;

Purposenoun

The act of intending to do something; resolution; determination.

Focusnoun

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.’;

Purposenoun

The subject of discourse; the point at issue.

Focusnoun

(uncountable) Concentration of attention.

‘I believe I can bring the high degree of focus required for this important job.’;

Purposenoun

The reason for which something is done, or the reason it is done in a particular way.

‘The purpose of turning off the lights overnight is to save energy.’;

Focusnoun

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

‘The earthquake's focus was at exactly 37 degrees north, 18 degrees south, seventy five meters below the ground.’;

Purposenoun

(obsolete) Instance; example.

Focusnoun

The indicator of the currently active element in a user interface.

‘Text entered at the keyboard or pasted from a clipboard is sent to the component which currently has the focus.’;

Purposeverb

(intransitive) To have set as one's purpose; resolve to accomplish; intend; plan.

Focusnoun

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

Purposeverb

To design for some purpose.

Focusverb

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

Purposeverb

To discourse.

Focusverb

(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.’;

Purposenoun

That which a person sets before himself as an object to be reached or accomplished; the end or aim to which the view is directed in any plan, measure, or exertion; view; aim; design; intention; plan.

‘He will his firste purpos modify.’; ‘As my eternal purpose hath decreed.’; ‘The flighty purpose never is o'ertookUnless the deed go with it.’;

Focusverb

To concentrate one's attention.

‘Focus on passing the test.’;

Purposenoun

Proposal to another; discourse.

Focusverb

(intransitive) To concentrate one’s attention.

‘If you're going to beat your competitors, you need to focus.’;

Purposenoun

Instance; example.

Focusverb

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

‘The text box won't receive the user's keystrokes unless you explicitly focus it.’;

Purposeverb

To set forth; to bring forward.

Focusnoun

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.

Purposeverb

To propose, as an aim, to one's self; to determine upon, as some end or object to be accomplished; to intend; to design; to resolve; - often followed by an infinitive or dependent clause.

‘Did nothing purpose against the state.’; ‘I purpose to write the history of England from the accession of King James the Second down to a time which is within the memory of men still living.’;

Focusnoun

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.

Purposeverb

To have a purpose or intention; to discourse.

Focusnoun

A central point; a point of concentration.

Purposenoun

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

‘his intent was to provide a new translation’; ‘good intentions are not enough’; ‘it was created with the conscious aim of answering immediate needs’; ‘he made no secret of his designs’;

Focusverb

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

Purposenoun

what something is used for;

‘the function of an auger is to bore holes’; ‘ballet is beautiful but what use is it?’;

Focusnoun

the concentration of attention or energy on something;

‘the focus of activity shifted to molecular biology’; ‘he had no direction in his life’;

Purposenoun

the quality of being determined to do or achieve something;

‘his determination showed in his every movement’; ‘he is a man of purpose’;

Focusnoun

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

‘in focus’; ‘out of focus’;

Purposeverb

propose or intend;

‘I aim to arrive at noon’;

Focusnoun

maximum clarity or distinctness of an idea;

‘the controversy brought clearly into focus an important difference of opinion’;

Purposeverb

reach a decision;

‘he resolved never to drink again’;

Focusnoun

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

‘the focus of infection’;

Focusnoun

special emphasis attached to something;

‘the stress was more on accuracy than on speed’;

Focusnoun

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

Focusnoun

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

Focusverb

direct one's attention on something;

‘Please focus on your studies and not on your hobbies’;

Focusverb

cause to converge on or toward a central point;

‘Focus the light on this image’;

Focusverb

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

Focusverb

become focussed or come into focus;

‘The light focused’;

Focusverb

put (an image) into focus;

‘Please focus the image; we cannot enjoy the movie’;

Focusnoun

the centre of interest or activity

‘this generation has made the environment a focus of attention’;

Focusnoun

an act of concentrating interest or activity on something

‘our focus on the customer's requirements’;

Focusnoun

the point of origin of an earthquake.

Focusnoun

the principal site of an infection or other disease.

Focusnoun

the state or quality of having or producing clear visual definition

‘his face is rather out of focus’; ‘the incident brought her feelings for Alexander sharply into focus’;

Focusnoun

another term for focal point

Focusnoun

the point at which an object must be situated with respect to a lens or mirror for an image of it to be well defined.

Focusnoun

a device on a lens which can be adjusted to produce a clear image.

Focusnoun

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.

Focusnoun

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

Focusverb

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

‘try to focus on a stationary object’;

Focusverb

cause (one's eyes) to focus

‘she focused her eyes on his face’;

Focusverb

adjust the focus of (a telescope, camera, or other instrument)

‘they were focusing a telescope on a star’;

Focusverb

(of rays or waves) meet at a single point.

Focusverb

(of a lens) make (rays or waves) meet at a single point.

Focusverb

(of light, radio waves, or other energy) become concentrated into a sharp beam.

Focusverb

(of a lens) concentrate (light, radio waves, or energy) into a sharp beam.

Focusverb

pay particular attention to

‘the study will focus on a number of areas in Wales’;

Focusverb

concentrate

‘an opportunity to focus research on the health needs of the population’;

Focusverb

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