concentrate

1 of 2

verb

con·​cen·​trate ˈkän(t)-sən-ˌtrāt 

-ˌsen-

concentrated; concentrating

transitive verb

1

a

: to bring or direct toward a common center or objective : focus

concentrate one's efforts

The lenses concentrate sunlight.

b

: to gather into one body, mass, or force

Power was concentrated in a few able hands.

concentrate the energy of a sound wave

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

Cuban immigrants who concentrate in Florida

3

: to focus one's powers, efforts, or attention

concentrate on a problem

Farmers are concentrating on the wheat harvest.

concentrative

ˈkän(t)-sən-ˌtrā-tiv 

-ˌsen-

adjective

concentrate

2 of 2

noun

1

: something concentrated: such as

a

: a mineral-rich product obtained after an initial processing of ore

b

: a food reduced in bulk by elimination of fluid

orange juice concentrate

2

: a feedstuff (such as grains) relatively rich in digestible nutrients compare fiber

Synonyms

Verb

• condense

Examples of concentrate in a Sentence

Verb

All that noise makes it hard to concentrate.

The student has difficulty concentrating.

The sauce should be simmered for a few minutes to concentrate its flavors.

Noun

a frozen orange juice concentrate

Is this orange juice fresh or is it made from concentrate?

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

This helps to concentrate the flavors and produce a high-proof spirit. —Emily Price, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025

At Alice + Olivia spring/summer 2025, hints of shimmer were placed at the inner corners and concentrated to the middle of the lids to brighten up eyes. —Rebecca Fearn, refinery29.com, 6 Jan. 2025

Noun

At Mountain Pass, the concentrate is roasted and then leached with hydrochloric acid to put the high-value rare earth elements into solution. —IEEE Spectrum, 27 Dec. 2024

Made from fresh cranberry juice, cranberry concentrate, natural cranberry essence, sage, lemon thyme, sugar, and juniper berry, it can be sipped own over ice, in a spritz, or in a Cosmopolitan—but can also be drizzled over ice cream or a warm slice of pie. —Emily Cappiello, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

com- + Latin centrum center

First Known Use

Verb

1628, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1871, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing concentrate

• concentrate the/your mind
• fish protein concentrate

Kids Definition

concentrate

1 of 2 verb

con·​cen·​trate ˈkän(t)-sən-ˌtrāt 

-sen-

concentrated; concentrating

1

a

: to bring, direct, or come toward or meet in a common center or objective

concentrate one's efforts

b

: to gather into one body, mass, or force

2

: to increase the amount of a substance in a space by removing other substances with which it is mixed or in which it is dissolved

concentrate syrup

concentrate ore

3

: to fix one's powers, efforts, or attention on one thing

concentrate on a problem

concentrator

-ˌtrāt-ər

noun

concentrate

2 of 2 noun

: something concentrated

frozen orange juice concentrate

Medical Definition

concentrate

1 of 2 verb

con·​cen·​trate ˈkän(t)-sən-ˌtrāt, -ˌsen- 

concentrated; concentrating

transitive verb

1

a

: to bring or direct toward a common center or objective : focus

b

: to accumulate (a toxic substance) in bodily tissues

fish concentrate mercury

2

: to make less dilute

concentrate syrup

intransitive verb

: to fix one's powers, efforts, or attention on one thing

concentrate on a problem

concentrator

-ˌtrāt-ər 

noun

concentrate

2 of 2 noun

: something prepared by concentration

especially : a food reduced in bulk by elimination of fluid

orange juice concentrate