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Webster 1913 Edition


Focal

Fo′cal

,
Adj.
[Cf. F.
focal
. See
Focus
.]
Belonging to,or concerning, a focus; as, a focal point.
Focal distance, or length, of a lens or mirror
(Opt.)
,
the distance of the focus from the surface of the lens or mirror, or more exactly, in the case of a lens, from its optical center.
Focal distance of a telescope
,
the distance of the image of an object from the object glass.

Webster 1828 Edition


Focal

FO'CAL

,
Adj.
[from L. focus.] Belonging to a focus; as a focal point; focal distance.

Definition 2024


focal

focal

English

Adjective

focal (not comparable)

  1. Belonging to, concerning, or located at a focus
  2. (medicine) limited to a small area

Derived terms

Translations


French

Etymology

From New Latin focālis.

Adjective

focal m (feminine singular focale, masculine plural focaux, feminine plural focales)

  1. focal

Irish

Etymology

From Old Irish focul, from Proto-Celtic *woxtlom, from Proto-Indo-European *wokʷtlom, from *wekʷ-.[1]

Pronunciation

Noun

focal m (genitive singular focail, nominative plural focail)

  1. word
    Ní raibh focal ag Peadar.
    Peter had nothing to say for himself.
    1. phrase, remark, observation, saying
      Is fearr focal sa chúirt ná punt sa sparán. ― A friend in court is better than a pound in the purse. —Proverb
    2. intelligence, message
    3. order
    4. promise, assurance

Declension

  • Alternative plural: focla (Cois Fharraige)

Derived terms

Mutation

Irish mutation
Radical Lenition Eclipsis
focal fhocal bhfocal
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every
possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

References

  1. Stüber, Karin (1998). The Historical Morphology of n-Stems in Celtic. Maynooth: Department of Old Irish, National University of Ireland, page 70. ISBN 0-901519-54-5.

Portuguese

Etymology

From New Latin focālis.

Adjective

focal m, f (plural focais, comparable)

  1. (optics) focal (relating to foci)
  2. (medicine) focal (limited to a small area)

Related terms


Spanish

Etymology

From New Latin focālis.

Adjective

focal m, f (plural focales)

  1. focal