noun · verb · 31 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈfəʊ̯.kəs/
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈfɵ̞ʊ̯.kəs/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Canadian, General-American, Standard:/ˈfoʊ̯.kəs/
Canadian, General-American, Standard:/ˈfɔʊ̯.kəs/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australian, New-Zealand:/ˈfəʉ.kəs/
Australian, New-Zealand:/ˈfɐ̝ʉ.kəs/
rhymes with -əʊkəs
CMU ARPABET:F OW1 K AH0 S
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:F OW1 K IH0 S
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A point at which reflected or refracted rays of light converge.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Borrowed from Latin focus (“hearth, fireplace”); see there for more. Related to fuel. Kepler introduced the term into mathematics and the sciences in describing elliptical orbits of planets (quote from Nicholas Mee) : "One of the interesting properties of an ellipse is that if there were a light bulb at one focus, then all the light that it emits would reflect off the ellipse and converge at the other focus. This is why Kepler originally used the name focus for these points."
Across languages
Translations
253 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Armenian:
կիզակետ
(kizaket)
— in optics
Bulgarian:
фокус
(fokus)
— in optics
Catalan:
focus
— in optics
Chinese Mandarin:
焦點 /焦点
(jiāodiǎn)
— in optics
Czech:
ohnisko
— in optics
Danish:
fokus
— in optics
Dutch:
focus
— in optics
Dutch:
brandpunt
— in optics
Esperanto:
fokuso
— in optics
Estonian:
fookus
— in optics
Finnish:
polttopiste
— in optics
Finnish:
fokus
— in optics
French:
foyer
— in optics
German:
Brennpunkt
— in optics
German:
Fokus
— in optics
Hungarian:
gyújtópont
— in optics
Hungarian:
fókusz
— in optics
Indonesian:
titik api
— in optics
Indonesian:
pumpunan
— in optics
Irish:
fócas
— in optics
Italian:
fuoco
— in optics
Japanese:
焦点
(shōten)
— in optics
Korean:
초점
(chojeom)
— in optics
Northern Kurdish:
tîşko
— in optics
Macedonian:
фокус
(fokus)
— in optics
Māori:
ngahunga
— in optics
Norwegian Bokmål:
fokus
— in optics
Norwegian Bokmål:
brennpunkt
— in optics
Norwegian Nynorsk:
fokus
— in optics
Norwegian Nynorsk:
brennpunkt
— in optics
Persian:
فوکوس
(fokus)
— in optics
Persian:
کانون
(kânun)
— in optics
Polish:
ognisko
— in optics
Portuguese:
foco
— in optics
Russian:
фо́кус
(fókus)
— in optics
Russian:
фока́льная то́чка
(fokálʹnaja tóčka)
— in optics
Spanish:
foco
— in optics
Spanish:
punto focal
— in optics
Swedish:
brännpunkt
— in optics
Swedish:
fokus
— in optics
Tagalog:
katumbukan
— in optics
Turkish:
odak
— in optics
Vietnamese:
tiêu điểm
— in optics
Bulgarian:
фокус
(fokus)
— in mathematics
Catalan:
focus
— in mathematics
Danish:
fokus
— in mathematics
Dutch:
focus
— in mathematics
Dutch:
brandpunt
— in mathematics
Estonian:
fookus
— in mathematics
Finnish:
polttopiste
— in mathematics
Finnish:
leikkauspiste
— in mathematics
French:
foyer
— in mathematics
German:
Brennpunkt
— in mathematics
Indonesian:
titik api
— in mathematics
Irish:
fócas
— in mathematics
Italian:
fuoco
— in mathematics
Japanese:
焦点
(shōten)
— in mathematics
Korean:
초점
(chojeom)
— in mathematics
Macedonian:
фокус
(fokus)
— in mathematics
Māori:
ngahunga
— in mathematics
Portuguese:
foco
— in mathematics
Russian:
фо́кус
(fókus)
— in mathematics
Russian:
фока́льная то́чка
(fokálʹnaja tóčka)
— in mathematics
Spanish:
foco
— in mathematics
Tagalog:
katumbukan
— in mathematics
Vietnamese:
tiêu điểm
— in mathematics
Danish:
fokus
— fact of the convergence of light on the photographic medium
Dutch:
brandpunt
— fact of the convergence of light on the photographic medium
Estonian:
fookus
— fact of the convergence of light on the photographic medium
Finnish:
tarkennus
— fact of the convergence of light on the photographic medium
German:
Fokus
— fact of the convergence of light on the photographic medium
Hungarian:
fókusz
— fact of the convergence of light on the photographic medium
Irish:
fócas
— fact of the convergence of light on the photographic medium
Portuguese:
enfoque
— fact of the convergence of light on the photographic medium
Spanish:
enfoque
— fact of the convergence of light on the photographic medium
Swedish:
fokus
— fact of the convergence of light on the photographic medium
Swedish:
skärpa
— fact of the convergence of light on the photographic medium
Vietnamese:
tiêu điểm
— fact of the convergence of light on the photographic medium
Bulgarian:
фокус
(fokus)
— quality of the convergence of light on the photographic medium
Danish:
fokus
— quality of the convergence of light on the photographic medium
Dutch:
brandpunt
— quality of the convergence of light on the photographic medium
Estonian:
fookus
— quality of the convergence of light on the photographic medium
Finnish:
tarkennus
— quality of the convergence of light on the photographic medium
German:
Fokus
— quality of the convergence of light on the photographic medium
Irish:
fócas
— quality of the convergence of light on the photographic medium
Japanese:
ピント
(pinto)
— quality of the convergence of light on the photographic medium
Northern Kurdish:
tîşko
— quality of the convergence of light on the photographic medium
Portuguese:
foco
— quality of the convergence of light on the photographic medium
Russian:
наво́дка на ре́зкость
(navódka na rézkostʹ)
— quality of the convergence of light on the photographic medium
Spanish:
enfoque
— quality of the convergence of light on the photographic medium
Swedish:
fokus
— quality of the convergence of light on the photographic medium
Swedish:
skärpa
— quality of the convergence of light on the photographic medium
Vietnamese:
tính rõ nét
— quality of the convergence of light on the photographic medium
Arabic:
بُؤْرَة
(buʔra)
— concentration of attention
Catalan:
focus
— concentration of attention
Chinese Mandarin:
集中
(jízhōng)
— concentration of attention
Danish:
fokus
— concentration of attention
Dutch:
focus
— concentration of attention
Esperanto:
fokuso
— concentration of attention
Esperanto:
atento
— concentration of attention
Estonian:
keskendus
— concentration of attention
Finnish:
keskittyminen
— concentration of attention
French:
attention
— concentration of attention
German:
Konzentration
— concentration of attention
Hindi:
ध्यान
(dhyān)
— concentration of attention
Indonesian:
pumpunan
— concentration of attention
Indonesian:
fokus
— concentration of attention
Irish:
fócas
— concentration of attention
Irish:
príomhchúram
— concentration of attention
Japanese:
集中
(shūchū)
— concentration of attention
Korean:
집중
(jipjung)
— concentration of attention
Malagasy:
fifantohana
— concentration of attention
Māori:
aronga
— concentration of attention
Norwegian Bokmål:
fokus
— concentration of attention
Norwegian Nynorsk:
fokus
— concentration of attention
Oromo:
hubannaa
— concentration of attention
Persian:
تمرکز
(tamarkoz)
— concentration of attention
Polish:
koncentracja
— concentration of attention
Portuguese:
foco
— concentration of attention
Portuguese:
enfoque
— concentration of attention
Portuguese:
concentração
— concentration of attention
Romanian:
concentrare
— concentration of attention
Russian:
концентра́ция
(koncentrácija)
— concentration of attention
Russian:
концентра́ция внима́ния
(koncentrácija vnimánija)
— concentration of attention
Russian:
сосредото́чение
(sosredotóčenije)
— concentration of attention
Russian:
средото́чие
(sredotóčije)
— concentration of attention
Spanish:
foco
— concentration of attention
Swedish:
fokus
— concentration of attention
Vietnamese:
trọng tâm
— concentration of attention
Bulgarian:
фокусирам
(fokusiram)
— to cause (rays of light, etc) to converge at a single point
Catalan:
enfocar
— to cause (rays of light, etc) to converge at a single point
Finnish:
kohdistaa
— to cause (rays of light, etc) to converge at a single point
French:
focaliser
— to cause (rays of light, etc) to converge at a single point
German:
fokussieren
— to cause (rays of light, etc) to converge at a single point
Greek:
εστιάζω
(estiázo)
— to cause (rays of light, etc) to converge at a single point
Ido:
enfokigar
— to cause (rays of light, etc) to converge at a single point
Irish:
fócasaigh
— to cause (rays of light, etc) to converge at a single point
Italian:
focalizzare
— to cause (rays of light, etc) to converge at a single point
Japanese:
絞る
(shiboru)
— to cause (rays of light, etc) to converge at a single point
Polish:
skupiać
— to cause (rays of light, etc) to converge at a single point
Portuguese:
focalizar
— to cause (rays of light, etc) to converge at a single point
Romanian:
focaliza
— to cause (rays of light, etc) to converge at a single point
Spanish:
enfocar
— to cause (rays of light, etc) to converge at a single point
Ukrainian:
фокусува́ти
(fokusuváty)
— to cause (rays of light, etc) to converge at a single point
Ukrainian:
сфокусува́ти
(sfokusuváty)
— to cause (rays of light, etc) to converge at a single point
Vietnamese:
làm tụ vào
— to cause (rays of light, etc) to converge at a single point
Bulgarian:
фокусирам
(fokusiram)
— (transitive, optics) to adjust (a lens, an optical instrument)
Catalan:
enfocar
— (transitive, optics) to adjust (a lens, an optical instrument)
Danish:
fokusere
— (transitive, optics) to adjust (a lens, an optical instrument)
Esperanto:
enfokusigi
— (transitive, optics) to adjust (a lens, an optical instrument)
Finnish:
tarkentaa
— (transitive, optics) to adjust (a lens, an optical instrument)
French:
mettre au point
— (transitive, optics) to adjust (a lens, an optical instrument)
German:
fokussieren
— (transitive, optics) to adjust (a lens, an optical instrument)
Greek:
εστιάζω
(estiázo)
— (transitive, optics) to adjust (a lens, an optical instrument)
Hungarian:
fókuszál
— (transitive, optics) to adjust (a lens, an optical instrument)
Hungarian:
fókuszba állít
— (transitive, optics) to adjust (a lens, an optical instrument)
Hungarian:
élesre állít
— (transitive, optics) to adjust (a lens, an optical instrument)
Ido:
enfokigar
— (transitive, optics) to adjust (a lens, an optical instrument)
Irish:
fócasaigh
— (transitive, optics) to adjust (a lens, an optical instrument)
Italian:
mettere a fuoco
— (transitive, optics) to adjust (a lens, an optical instrument)
Japanese:
ピントを合わせる
(pinto wo awaseru)
— (transitive, optics) to adjust (a lens, an optical instrument)
Māori:
whakanga(nga)hu
— (transitive, optics) to adjust (a lens, an optical instrument)
Portuguese:
focalizar
— (transitive, optics) to adjust (a lens, an optical instrument)
Romanian:
focaliza
— (transitive, optics) to adjust (a lens, an optical instrument)
Russian:
фокуси́ровать
(fokusírovatʹ)
— (transitive, optics) to adjust (a lens, an optical instrument)
Russian:
сфокуси́ровать
(sfokusírovatʹ)
— (transitive, optics) to adjust (a lens, an optical instrument)
Russian:
наводить на фокус
(navodít' na fókus)
— (transitive, optics) to adjust (a lens, an optical instrument)
Spanish:
enfocar
— (transitive, optics) to adjust (a lens, an optical instrument)
Spanish:
afocar
— (transitive, optics) to adjust (a lens, an optical instrument)
Swedish:
fokusera
— (transitive, optics) to adjust (a lens, an optical instrument)
Swedish:
ställa in fokus
— (transitive, optics) to adjust (a lens, an optical instrument)
Swedish:
ställa in skärpan
— (transitive, optics) to adjust (a lens, an optical instrument)
Ukrainian:
фокусува́ти
(fokusuváty)
— (transitive, optics) to adjust (a lens, an optical instrument)
Ukrainian:
сфокусува́ти
(sfokusuváty)
— (transitive, optics) to adjust (a lens, an optical instrument)
Vietnamese:
điều chỉnh tiêu điểm
— (transitive, optics) to adjust (a lens, an optical instrument)
Russian:
фокуси́роваться
(fokusírovatʹsja)
— (intransitive, optics) To adjust itself or be adjusted such that light from a scene converges appropriately
Russian:
сфокуси́роваться
(sfokusírovatʹsja)
— (intransitive, optics) To adjust itself or be adjusted such that light from a scene converges appropriately
Ukrainian:
фокусува́тися
(fokusuvátysja)
— (intransitive, optics) To adjust itself or be adjusted such that light from a scene converges appropriately
Ukrainian:
сфокусува́тися
(sfokusuvátysja)
— (intransitive, optics) To adjust itself or be adjusted such that light from a scene converges appropriately
French:
concentrer
— (transitive) To direct (attention, effort, or energy to)
Greek:
εστιάζω
(estiázo)
— (transitive) To direct (attention, effort, or energy to)
Belarusian:
засяроджвацца
(zasjaródžvacca)
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Belarusian:
засяродзіцца
(zasjaródzicca)
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Chinese Mandarin:
集中
(jízhōng)
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Danish:
fokusere
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Danish:
koncentrere sig
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Dutch:
zich concentreren
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Dutch:
focussen
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Dutch:
zich focussen
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Finnish:
keskittyä
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
French:
se concentrer
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
French:
se focaliser
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
German:
sich konzentrieren
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Hungarian:
összpontosít
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Hungarian:
koncentrál
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Icelandic:
einbeita
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Irish:
dírigh ar
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Italian:
concentrarsi
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Japanese:
集中する
(shūchū suru)
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Korean:
집중하다
(jipjunghada)
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Latin:
animadverto
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Māori:
whakaarorangi
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Norwegian Bokmål:
fokusere
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Norwegian Nynorsk:
fokusere
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Norwegian Nynorsk:
fokusera
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Polish:
skupiać się
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Polish:
skupić się
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Polish:
skoncentrować się
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Portuguese:
focar-se
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Romanian:
se concentra
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Russian:
концентри́роваться
(koncentrírovatʹsja)
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Russian:
сконцентри́роваться
(skoncentrírovatʹsja)
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Russian:
сосредото́чиваться
(sosredotóčivatʹsja)
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Russian:
сосредото́читься
(sosredotóčitʹsja)
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Spanish:
concentrarse
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Swedish:
fokusera
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Swedish:
koncentrera sig
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Ukrainian:
зосереджуватися
(zoseredžuvatysja)
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Ukrainian:
зосередитися
(zoseredytysja)
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Vietnamese:
tập trung
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention
Bulgarian:
съсредоточавам се
(sǎsredotočavam se)
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention on something
Bulgarian:
концентрирам се
(koncentriram se)
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention on something
Catalan:
enfocar
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention on something
Danish:
fokusere på
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention on something
Danish:
koncentrere sig om
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention on something
Finnish:
keskittyä
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention on something
Finnish:
kiinnittää huomionsa
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention on something
Finnish:
keskittää huomionsa
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention on something
French:
se concentrer
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention on something
German:
sich konzentrieren
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention on something
German:
fokussieren
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention on something
Hungarian:
összpontosít
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention on something
Hungarian:
koncentrál
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention on something
Hungarian:
fókuszál
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention on something
Italian:
concentrarsi
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention on something
Japanese:
集中する
(shūchū suru)
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention on something
Latin:
animadverto
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention on something
Macedonian:
сосредоточува
(sosredotočuva)
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention on something
Macedonian:
концентри́ра
(koncentríra)
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention on something
Portuguese:
focar
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention on something
Romanian:
se concentra (on/upon: pe/asupra)
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention on something
Russian:
концентри́ровать
(koncentrírovatʹ)
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention on something
Russian:
сконцентри́ровать
(skoncentrírovatʹ)
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention on something
Russian:
сосредото́чивать
(sosredotóčivatʹ)
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention on something
Russian:
сосредото́чить
(sosredotóčitʹ)
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention on something
Spanish:
centrarse en
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention on something
Spanish:
enfocar
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention on something
Swedish:
fokusera
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention on something
Turkish:
odaklanmak
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention on something
Vietnamese:
tập trung
— (intransitive) to concentrate one's attention on something
Finnish:
kohdistaa
— (computing, graphical user interface) to transfer the input focus to
Vietnamese:
đặt tiêu điểm
— (computing, graphical user interface) to transfer the input focus to
Vietnamese:
đưa tiêu điểm
— (computing, graphical user interface) to transfer the input focus to