concentrate

[kon-suh n-treyt] /ˈkɒn sənˌtreɪt/
verb (used with object), concentrated, concentrating.
1.
to bring or draw to a common center or point of union; converge; direct toward one point; focus:
to concentrate one's attention on a problem; to concentrate the rays of the sun with a lens.
2.
to put or bring into a single place, group, etc.:
The nation's wealth had been concentrated in a few families.
3.
to intensify; make denser, stronger, or purer, especially by the removal or reduction of liquid:
to concentrate fruit juice; to concentrate a sauce by boiling it down.
4.
Mining. to separate (metal or ore) from rock, sand, etc., so as to improve the quality of the valuable portion.
verb (used without object), concentrated, concentrating.
5.
to bring all efforts, faculties, activities, etc., to bear on one thing or activity (often followed by on or upon):
to concentrate on solving a problem.
6.
to come to or toward a common center; converge; collect:
The population concentrated in one part of the city.
7.
to become more intense, stronger, or purer.
noun
8.
a concentrated form of something; a product of concentration:
a juice concentrate.
Origin
1630-40; concentr(ic) + -ate2; compare French concentrer, Italian concentrare
Related forms
concentrative
[kon-suh n-trey-tiv, kuh n-sen-truh-] /ˈkɒn sənˌtreɪ tɪv, kənˈsɛn trə-/ (Show IPA), adjective
concentrativeness, noun
concentrator, noun
nonconcentrative, adjective
nonconcentrativeness, noun
overconcentrate, verb, overconcentrated, overconcentrating.
preconcentrate, noun, verb, preconcentrated, preconcentrating.
reconcentrate, verb, reconcentrated, reconcentrating.
unconcentrative, adjective
Synonyms
1. See contract.
Antonyms
1. dissipate, disperse. 5. diverge.
Examples from the web for concentrate
  • The company said it would attempt to sell the concentrate business.
  • Sometimes the audio would cut out as well, which made it harder for them to concentrate.
  • Environmentalists have long said the world should concentrate on preventing climate change, not adapting to it.
  • The mountains concentrate the fumes and noise from all these vehicles.
  • Program the basics into calculators and concentrate on fewer problem types.
  • In the animals' gills, filters remove the tiny foods from the water and concentrate them.
  • concentrate a little, and you'll get zapped a little.
  • Instead, they would concentrate on capturing the intentions of computer users.
  • As chancellor he will concentrate on fund raising, student recruitment, and other.
  • Or you can concentrate the sun's rays using mirrors, boil water with them, and employ the steam to drive a generator.
British Dictionary definitions for concentrate

concentrate

/ˈkɒnsənˌtreɪt/
verb
1.
to come or cause to come to a single purpose or aim: to concentrate one's hopes on winning
2.
to make or become denser or purer by the removal of certain elements, esp the solvent of a solution
3.
(transitive) to remove rock or sand from (an ore) to make it purer
4.
(intransitive) often foll by on. to bring one's faculties to bear (on); think intensely (about)
noun
5.
a concentrated material or solution: tomato concentrate
Derived Forms
concentrator, noun
Word Origin
C17: back formation from concentration, ultimately from Latin com- same + centrumcentre
Word Origin and History for concentrate
v.

1630s, "to bring or come to a common center," from concenter (1590s), from Italian concentrare, from Latin com- "together" (see com-) + centrum "center" (see center). Meaning "condense" is from 1680s. Sense of "mentally focus" is c.1860. Related: Concentrated; concentrating.

n.

1883, from concentrate (v.).