concentration

Everyday

1. Giving all your attention to one thing: the puzzle needs concentration. tree →
2. (science) The amount of a substance in a liquid or mixture: a high concentration of salt. tree →
3. A large number of people or things in one place: a concentration of shops in the town centre. tree →

In the lessons

In school, concentration helps learning; teachers say "lose concentration" or "break your concentration". In science, a stronger solution has a higher concentration (more sugar per cup of water). In history, concentration camps were terrible prisons. Phrases: lose concentration, full concentration, high concentration, concentration span.

Examples

• Chess needs a lot of concentration. tree →
• The noise broke my concentration. tree →
• Sea water has a higher concentration of salt than river water. tree →
• Adding more water lowers the concentration of the squash. tree →
• There is a concentration of cafés near the station. tree →
• Her concentration lasted for the whole test. tree →
• 20 g of sugar in 100 ml is a higher concentration than 20 g in 200 ml. tree →

Note

Uncountable for attention; countable in science (different concentrations). Verb: concentrate. In maths and science, concentration = amount of substance / amount of liquid, so more liquid means a weaker mix.