(geometry,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.
1877,James Booth,A Treatise on Some New Geometrical Methods, page209:
Again, if the plane of the impressed couple intersects the mean plane between N and C, it will envelope the cone whosefocals are ON, ON′, and whose internal axis is therefore OA.
(Wicca) An object that is used to focus concentration when performing magic.
2000, Sirona Knight,Celtic Traditions: Druids, Faeries, and Wiccan Rituals, page193:
Choose yourfocals to blend well with the intention of your magical work or ritual.
2019, Faith Hunter,Circle of the Moon, page27:
And no witch leaves behindfocals.
2022, Tracy Deonn,Bloodmarked:
I usefocals for aura work sometimes.
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 didfocals paired with adults.
1996, Ronald J. Heslegrave,An Exploration of Psychological and Psychophysiologial Measures as Predictors of Successful Performance Under Stress, page69:
Thirty-one percent of thefocals rated as low transformational by subordinates at time 1 were engaging in two of these three leadership/management styles, and 54% of thefocals rated as low transformational were engaging in only one of the three styles.
2006, Alison E. Cook,The Ontogeny of Play in Infant Female Bonobos, page48:
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 threefocals.
2019, Allan H. Church, David W. Bracken, John W. Fleenor,Handbook of Strategic 360 Feedback:
Relevancy providesfocals motivation to change by making the links clear between their behavior and the success of the organization.
A representative of a group or class of people within an organizational system.
2007 Spring, Keith L. Woodman, “Nothing Weak About It: Thriving in a Weak-Matrix Project Environment”, inAsk Magazine, page47:
Attempting to balance priorities across the exploration, science, and aeronautics programs requires constant and complex negotiations betwen the centerfocals, the projects they represent, and Langley's engineering directorates.
2012, Raul Valverde,Information Systems Reengineering for Modern Business Systems., page251:
Consolidate allfocals'requirements: To be done by the Operations Manager.
2022, Asian Development Bank,Mainstreaming Water Resilience in Asia and the Pacific:
Providing technical support to regional climate and WSGfocals of all operational divisions on water resilience will amplify the larger pool of project officers.
Asign or similar type of marketing material designed to draw attention to special deals.
2007, David Weinberger,Everything Is Miscellaneous:
Gesturing at the cleanliness of the design, Medill says, “Originally we had 'focals,'“—signs that call out special offers—“but they blocked eyeballs.”
The central or most important element of something; a focal element.
1997, Lewis Acrelius Froman,Language and Power, page100:
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 thefocals and how the colour supports and enhances them.
A major point of interest; an attraction.
1978,New Orleans region transportation study, page29:
In the Visual Survey Analysis Report,focals are divided into four categories; visual, historical, symbolic, and culturalfocals.Focals might correspond to the Kevin Lynch definition of landmarks.
1995, Roy G. D'Andrade,The Development of Cognitive Anthropology, page108:
So informants, like languages, show a stable, agreed upon placement offocals, but considerable variability in the boundaries for the extensions of terms.
