focal

adj

1. (not-comparable)Belonging to, concerning, or located at a focus (definite location).

   “focal point”

   “The contamination was focal.”

2. (not-comparable)Belonging to, concerning, or located at a focus of attention.

   “focal point”

   “The disturbances at the periphery became a focal concern later in the investigation.”

3. (not-comparable)Limited to a small area.

   “The rash was focal.”

noun

1. (obsolete)One of two lines perpendicular to the axis of a cone such that the cosine of the angle between the line and the axis is equal to the ratio of the cosines o the semiangles of the cone.

   “Again, if the plane of the impressed couple intersects the mean plane between N and C, it will envelope the cone whose focals are ON, ON′, and whose internal axis is therefore OA.”

2. An object that is used to focus concentration when performing magic.

   “Choose your focals to blend well with the intention of your magical work or ritual.”

   “And no witch leaves behind focals.”

   “I use focals for aura work sometimes.”

3. The individual who is the focus of a study or review, when the study or review is based on that individual's interactions with others.

   “As predicted, focals who were paired with peers produced significantly higher levels of reasoning at posttest ( M = 35.34, SD = 4.44 ) than did focals paired with adults.”

   “Thirty-one percent of the focals rated as low transformational by subordinates at time 1 were engaging in two of these three leadership/management styles, and 54% of the focals rated as low transformational were engaging in only one of the three styles.”

   “As this study covered 46 individual play behaviors, I did not have time to statistically analyze each individual behavior against all age intervals, for all three focals.”

   “Relevancy provides focals motivation to change by making the links clear between their behavior and the success of the organization.”

4. A representative of a group or class of people within an organizational system.

   “Attempting to balance priorities across the exploration, science, and aeronautics programs requires constant and complex negotiations betwen the center focals, the projects they represent, and Langley's engineering directorates.”

   “Consolidate all focals' requirements: To be done by the Operations Manager.”

   “Providing technical support to regional climate and WSG focals of all operational divisions on water resilience will amplify the larger pool of project officers.”

5. A sign or similar type of marketing material designed to draw attention to special deals.

   “Gesturing at the cleanliness of the design, Medill says, “Originally we had 'focals,'“—signs that call out special offers—“but they blocked eyeballs.””

6. The central or most important element of something; a focal element.

   “We become "native speakers," but variably with respect to numerous valued/powered criteria of truth/goodness/beauty (focals) and their derivative values which "leave" "some” more valuable ( as speakers ) than others.”

   “When using supporting flowers, consider their size and shape in relation to the focals and how the colour supports and enhances them.”

7. A major point of interest; an attraction.

   “In the Visual Survey Analysis Report, focals are divided into four categories; visual, historical, symbolic, and cultural focals. Focals might correspond to the Kevin Lynch definition of landmarks.”

8. An exemplar of a concept.

   “So informants, like languages, show a stable, agreed upon placement of focals, but considerable variability in the boundaries for the extensions of terms.”