Focus vs. Refocus

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.’;

Refocusverb

(intransitive) to focus on something else

Focusnoun

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

Refocusverb

(transitive) to change the focus of

‘to refocus a microscope’;

Focusnoun

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

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

Refocusverb

(intransitive) to change one's priorities

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.’;

Refocusverb

(intransitive) to come back into focus

Focusnoun

(uncountable) Concentration of attention.

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

Refocusverb

focus anew

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.’;

Refocusverb

focus anew;

‘The group needs to refocus its goals’;

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.’;

Refocusverb

put again into focus or focus more sharply;

‘refocus the image until it is very sharp’;

Focusnoun

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

Focusverb

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

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.’;

Focusverb

To concentrate one's attention.

‘Focus on passing the test.’;

Focusverb

(intransitive) To concentrate one’s attention.

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

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.’;

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.

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.

Focusnoun

A central point; a point of concentration.

Focusverb

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

Focusnoun

the concentration of attention or energy on something;

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

Focusnoun

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

‘in focus’; ‘out of focus’;

Focusnoun

maximum clarity or distinctness of an idea;

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

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).