Concentrate

Definition

Concentrate is both a verb and a noun. As a verb, it means to focus all one's attention or mental effort on a particular activity or subject. It can also mean to increase the strength or proportion of a substance. As a noun, it refers to a substance made stronger or purer by removing water or other diluting agents.

Parts of Speech

• Verb
• Noun

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈkɑːnsənˌtreɪt/ (verb), /ˈkɑːnsəntreɪt/ (noun)
• Respelling: KON-suhn-trayt

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈkɒnsəntreɪt/ (both verb and noun)
• Respelling: KON-suhn-trayt

Etymology

The word "concentrate" comes from the Latin "concentrare," meaning "to bring to a common center," from "com-" (together) and "centrum" (center). It entered English in the 17th century, initially with a focus on bringing things together to a central point, and later evolving to include the ideas of focus and purity.

Derivatives

• Concentration (noun)
• Concentrated (adjective)
• Concentrative (adjective)
• Concentrator (noun)
• Deconcentrate (verb)

Synonyms

• Focus
• Intensify
• Center

Antonyms

• Disperse
• Diffuse
• Distract

Usage

The term "concentrate" is used in both mental and physical contexts. For example, "She needs to concentrate on her studies," or "They used a juice concentrate to make the beverage stronger."

Related Terms

• Focus: To give attention to a specific area or activity.
• Purify: To make something cleaner or more concentrated.
• Attention: The mental concentration directed toward something.

Detailed Definitions

Verb

• To focus one's attention or mental effort on a task: Refers to directing all one’s thoughts toward a particular task or subject.
  • Example: "She struggled to concentrate with so much noise around."
• To increase the strength of a substance: In a scientific or industrial context, it means to make a substance denser or purer by removing extraneous elements.
  • Example: "They concentrated the solution by evaporating the water."

Noun

• A substance made stronger or purer: Refers to a product that has had water or other elements removed to increase its potency.
  • Example: "The orange juice concentrate needs to be diluted with water before drinking."