/ əˈtenʃn; NAmE / noun , exclamation
■ noun
LISTENING / LOOKING CAREFULLY
1.
[ U ] the act of listening to, looking at or thinking about sth/sb carefully :
the report's attention to detail
He turned his attention back to the road again.
Small children have a very short attention span .
Please pay attention (= listen carefully) to what I am saying.
Don't pay any attention to what they say (= don't think that it is important) .
She tried to attract the waiter's attention .
I tried not to draw attention to (= make people notice) the weak points in my argument.
An article in the newspaper caught my attention .
I couldn't give the programme my undivided attention .
( formal )
It has come to my attention (= I have been informed) that ...
( formal )
He called (their) attention to the fact that many files were missing.
( formal )
Can I have your attention please?
INTEREST
2.
[ U ] interest that people show in sb/sth :
Films with big stars always attract great attention .
As the youngest child, she was always the centre of attention .
3.
[ C , usually pl. ] things that sb does to try to please you or to show their interest in you :
She tried to escape the unwanted attentions of her former boyfriend.
TREATMENT
4.
[ U ] special care, action or treatment :
She was in need of medical attention.
The roof needs attention (= needs to be repaired) .
for the attention of ... (= written on the envelope of an official letter to say who should deal with it)
SOLDIERS
5.
[ U ] the position soldiers take when they stand very straight with their feet together and their arms at their sides :
to stand at / to attention
—compare (stand) at ease at ease noun
■ exclamation
1.
used for asking people to listen to sth that is being announced :
Attention, please! Passengers for flight KL412 are requested to go to gate 21 immediately.
2.
used for ordering soldiers to stand to attention
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Latin attentio(n-) , from the verb attendere , from ad- to + tendere stretch.