locus
Americannoun
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loci,
plural
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loca
plural
-
a place; locality.
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a center or source, as of activities or power.
locus of control.
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Mathematics. the set of all points, lines, or surfaces that satisfy a given requirement.
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Genetics. the chromosomal position of a gene as determined by its linear order relative to the other genes on that chromosome.
noun
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(in many legal phrases) a place or area, esp the place where something occurred
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maths a set of points whose location satisfies or is determined by one or more specified conditions
the locus of points equidistant from a given point is a circle
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genetics the position of a particular gene on a chromosome
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loci
plural
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The set or configuration of all points whose coordinates satisfy a single equation or one or more algebraic conditions.
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The position that a given gene occupies on a chromosome.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of locus
First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin; Old Latin stlocus “a place”
Explanation
The center or source of something is known as the locus. A shopping mall is usually a locus for teenagers. In addition to being a hub or hotspot, locus has specific meanings when used in math or science. In math, a locus is when a set of points all meet at a designated location: a circle is the locus of points equal in length from one given point. In genetics, the locus is the location of a certain gene on a chromosome. A locus is where things are happening. Washington, D.C. is the locus for politics in the U.S.
Vocabulary lists containing locus
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
On Saturday the protests spread to trade unions and members of the yellow-vest protest movement, becoming a locus of broader discontent over the state of France’s public services.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2026
Mr. Guimarães performed at what might be the international locus of all things magical, the famed Magic Castle, a private club in Hollywood where professionals perform and the smitten gather to celebrate them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
It’s all vast and various and spread out, there is no central deliberative council, no known locus of authority.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
Because the locus coeruleus contains many of these receptors, the researchers investigated whether they play a particularly important role in controlling pain there.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 27, 2026
For us, the island had become the locus of the struggle.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Which is why the Olympic rink has been invaded by George Michael, the Backstreet Boys and enough Ricky Martin to turn Milan’s dolce vita into la vida loca.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 9, 2026
“We call it hora loca in Spanish. And we created a playlist of second movements of Mozart symphonies and that somehow is like a sedative. They always immediately relax.”
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 11, 2023
Are you ready to live la vida loca, bailando and pump that gasolina?
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2023
It continued at La Piazzetta, a restaurant within the resort, where the couple and their guests enjoyed a flamboyant hora loca, an hour full of dancing and appearances by costumed performers.
From New York Times ● Mar. 4, 2022
Luz and Milagro exchange a glance that says, “Oh no, not another loca in the family!” and refuse to ask anything.
From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García
Would Washingtonians rather live next to a structure that looks like a gigantic Martian spaceship or a work of beauty that reflects the genius loci, the spirit of the place?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 20, 2026
After analysing the data, they found over 2,000 genomic loci linked to blood pressure, including 113 new regions.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 30, 2024
They examined the X chromosome, which earlier studies did not do, and found five loci linked with PTSD.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 18, 2024
Their findings go beyond existing knowledge by mapping cell type and temporally specific genetic loci implicated in neuropsychiatric disorders.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2023
The number of modern actors who use a formal method of loci to remember their lines, I daresay, isn’t that high, for instance—and not everyone in the ancient world went along with it.
From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
