concentration
UK[ˌkɒnsənˈtreɪʃn]US[ˌkɑːnsənˈtreɪʃn]
n
the ability to direct all your effort and attention on one thing, without thinking of other matters
n
a large amount of something in one place
n
the process in which a substance increases in strength or density, or such a substance itself
Morpheme Breakdown
con
centr
ation
con
together
centr
center
ation
action or state
Etymology
The word "concentration" is built upon the core idea of gathering towards a central point. Its Latin ancestor, concentrare, combined con- (together) and centrum (center) to literally mean "to bring to a common center". This spatial and physical sense evolved in scientific contexts to describe the process of increasing a substance's strength in a solution, focusing mass or potency. By metaphorical extension, the term was applied to the mental faculty, conceptualizing the mind's ability to gather and focus its scattered thoughts and attention onto a single point or task, mirroring the original physical act of consolidation.
Analysis
Structure: con (together) + centr (center) + ation (action or state)
- con: A Latin prefix meaning "together, with".
- centr: From Latin centrum, meaning "center", itself from Greek kéntron (sharp point, stationary point of a compass).
- ation: A suffix of Latin origin (-ationem) forming nouns indicating an action or its result.
Examples
The game requires intense concentration and a steady hand.
There is a heavy concentration of industry in the north of the country.
The concentration of salt in the water was measured carefully.