Phrase guide
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
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verb
To focus one's aim; to zoom in and center (on something).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To successfully narrow down a search (for).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To concentrate or focus one's attention (on a task).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To converge (on).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: idiomatic
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
adjust (as by firing under test conditions) the zero of (a gun)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: zero
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: adjust, set, correct
verb
direct onto a point or target, especially by automatic navigational aids
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: range in, home in
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: target, aim, place, direct, point
History
The phrase possibly comes from adjusting a sighting mechanism of a firearm to minimise the discrepancy between where the sight points and where a bullet lands on a target. Another possible source is the Cartesian coordinate system in mathematics. In the coordinate system, points are defined relative to an origin (point of reference) labeled O, which has an (x,y) coordinate pair of (0,0).
Across languages
12 source translations are retained for this English entry.
