Pronunciation: ' kän(t)-s ə n- ˌ tr ā t, - ˌ sen-
Function: verb
Inflected Form: -trat · ed ; -trat · ing
Etymology: com- + Latin centrum center
Date: 1641
transitive verb
1 a : to bring or direct toward a common center or objective : FOCUS < concentrate one's efforts> b : to gather into one body, mass, or force <power was concentrated in a few able hands> c : to accumulate (a toxic substance) in bodily tissues <fish concentrate mercury>
2 a : to make less dilute < concentrate syrup> b : to express or exhibit in condensed form
intransitive verb
1 : to draw toward or meet in a common center
2 : GATHER , COLLECT
3 : to focus one's powers, efforts, or attention < concentrate on a problem>
– con · cen · trat · ed · ly \ - ˌ tr ā -t ə d-l ē ; ˌ kän(t)-s ə n- ' tr ā - \ adverb
– con · cen · tra · tive \ - ˌ tr ā -tiv \ adjective