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Focus vs Prompt - What's the difference?

focus | prompt |

As nouns the difference between focus and prompt

is that focus is (countable|optics) a point at which reflected or refracted rays of light converge while prompt is a reminder or cue.

As verbs the difference between focus and prompt

is that focus is to cause (rays of light, etc) to converge at a single point while prompt is to lead someone toward what they should say or do.

As an adjective prompt is

(archaic) ready, willing (to act).

focus

English

(wikipedia focus)

Noun

  • (countable, optics) A point at which reflected or refracted rays of light converge.
  • (countable, geometry) A point of a conic at which rays reflected from a curve or surface converge.
  • (uncountable, photography, cinematography) The fact of the convergence of light on the photographic medium.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=July-August, author= Catherine Clabby
  • , magazine=(American Scientist), title= Focus on Everything , passage=Not long ago, it was difficult to produce photographs of tiny creatures with every part in focus'.
  • (uncountable, photography, cinematography) The quality of the convergence of light on the photographic medium.
  • (uncountable) Concentration of attention.
  • (countable, seismology) The exact point of where an earthquake occurs, in three dimensions.
  • (computing, graphical user interface) The indicator of the currently active element in a user interface.
  • (linguistics) The most important word or phrase in a sentence or passage, or the one that imparts information.
  • Verb

  • To cause (rays of light, etc) to converge at a single point.
  • 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.
  • To concentrate one's attention.
  • Focus on passing the test.
  • To concentrate one’s attention.
  • If you're going to beat your competitors, you need to focus .

    Usage notes

    The spellings focusses'', ''focussing'', ''focussed'' are more common in Commonwealth English than in American English, but in both varieties they are less common than the spellings ''focuses'', ''focusing'', ''focused .

    Derived terms

    * focus group * in focus * out of focus

    prompt

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (archaic) Ready, willing (to act).
  • * 1623 , William Shakespeare, Antony & Cleopatra , III.8:
  • Tell him, I am prompt To lay my Crowne at's feete, and there to kneele.
  • Quick, acting without delay.
  • He was very prompt at getting a new job.
  • On time, punctual.
  • Be prompt for your appointment.

    Derived terms

    * promptness

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A reminder or cue.
  • (business, dated) A time limit given for payment of an account for produce purchased, this limit varying with different goods.
  • * John Stuart Mill
  • To cover any probable difference of price which might arise before the expiration of the prompt , which for this article [tea] is three months.
  • (computing) A symbol that appears on a monitor to indicate that the computer is ready to receive input.
  • I filled in my name where the prompt appeared on the computer screen but my account wasn't recognized.
  • (writing) A suggestion for inspiration given to an author.
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To lead someone toward what they should say or do.
  • I prompted him to get a new job.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=September 2 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Bulgaria 0-3 England , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=The only sour note on a virtually perfect night for England came from shameful 'monkey' chanting aimed at Ashley Cole and Ashley Young from a section of Bulgaria's fans which later prompted an official complaint from the Football Association to Uefa.}}
  • (theater, and, television) - to show or tell an actor/person the words they should be saying, or actions they should be doing.
  • If he forgets his words I will prompt him.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    See also

    * promptly * prompter ----