fo|cal /foʊ k ə l/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Focal is used to describe something that relates to the point where a number of rays or lines meet. □ …the focal plane of the telescope.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Focal is used to describe something that is very important. □ …one of the focal centres of the Far East.
fo |cal point (focal points ) N‑COUNT The focal point of something is the thing that people concentrate on or pay most attention to. □ …the focal point for the town's many visitors–the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
fo'c'sle /foʊ ksl/ → see forecastle
fo|cus ◆◆◇ /foʊ kəs/ (foci /foʊ sa I /, focuses , focusing , focused ) The spellings focusses , focussing , focussed are also used. The plural of the noun can be either foci or focuses . 1 VERB If you focus on a particular topic or if your attention is focused on it, you concentrate on it and think about it, discuss it, or deal with it, rather than dealing with other topics. □ [V + on ] He is currently focusing on assessment and development. □ [V n + on ] Many of the papers focus their attention on the controversy surrounding the Foreign Secretary.
2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] The focus of something is the main topic or main thing that it is concerned with. □ [+ of ] The new system is the focus of controversy. □ [+ of ] Her children are the main focus of her life.
3 N‑COUNT [usu sing] Your focus on something is the special attention that you pay it. □ IBM has also shifted its focus from mainframes to personal computers.
4 N‑UNCOUNT If you say that something has a focus , you mean that you can see a purpose in it. □ Somehow, though, their latest album has a focus that the others have lacked.
5 VERB If you focus your eyes or if your eyes focus , your eyes adjust so that you can clearly see the thing that you want to look at. If you focus a camera, telescope, or other instrument, you adjust it so that you can see clearly through it. □ [V n] Kelly couldn't focus his eyes well enough to tell if the figure was male or female. □ [V + on ] His eyes slowly began to focus on what looked like a small dark ball. □ [V n + on ] He found the binoculars and focused them on the boat. □ [V -ed] Had she kept the camera focused on the river bank she might have captured a vital scene. [Also V ]
6 N‑UNCOUNT You use focus to refer to the fact of adjusting your eyes or a camera, telescope, or other instrument, and to the degree to which you can see clearly. □ His focus switched to the little white ball.
7 VERB If you focus rays of light on a particular point, you pass them through a lens or reflect them from a mirror so that they meet at that point. □ [V n prep] Magnetic coils focus the electron beams into fine spots.
8 N‑COUNT The focus of a number of rays or lines is the point at which they meet. [TECHNICAL ]
9 PHRASE If an image or a camera, telescope, or other instrument is in focus , the edges of what you see are clear and sharp. □ Pictures should be in focus, with realistic colours and well composed groups.
10 PHRASE If something is in focus , it is being discussed or its purpose and nature are clear. □ This aggression is the real issue. We want to keep that in focus.
11 PHRASE If an image or a camera, telescope, or other instrument is out of focus , the edges of what you see are unclear. □ In some of the pictures the subjects are out of focus while the background is sharp. COLLOCATIONS focus VERB 1
focus + noun : attention, mind; effort, energy, resources; debate, discussion
noun + focus : attention, discussion, investigation, research, study
focus + adverb : entirely, exclusively, solely, totally; heavily, mainly, primarily NOUN 3
adjective + focus : clear, intense, narrow, relentless, sharp; main, primary, sole; increased, renewed
verb + focus : shift, switch; increase, narrow, sharpen; keep, maintain SYNONYMS focus VERB 1
concentrate: Water companies should concentrate on reducing waste.
direct: The learner's attention needs to be directed to the significant features.
home in: The critics immediately homed in on the group's newly-elected members.
fo|cused /foʊ kəst/ also focussed ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you describe someone or something as focused , you approve of the fact that they have a clear and definite purpose. [APPROVAL ] □ I spent the next year just wandering. I wasn't focused.
fo |cus group (focus groups ) N‑COUNT A focus group is a specially selected group of people who are intended to represent the general public. Focus groups have discussions in which their opinions are recorded as a form of market research.
fod|der /fɒ də r /
1 N‑UNCOUNT Fodder is food that is given to cows, horses, and other animals. □ The alfalfa plant is widely used as animal fodder.
2 N‑UNCOUNT If you say that something is fodder for a particular purpose, you mean that it is useful for that purpose and perhaps nothing else. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The press conference simply provided more fodder for another attack on his character.
foe /foʊ / (foes ) N‑COUNT Someone's foe is their enemy. [WRITTEN ]
foe|tal /fiː t ə l/ also fetal ADJ [ADJ n] Foetal is used to describe something that relates to or is like a foetus. □ …an early stage of foetal development.
foet|id /fiː t I d/ → see fetid
foe|tus /fiː təs/ (foetuses ) also fetus N‑COUNT A foetus is an animal or human being in its later stages of development before it is born.