locus
Americannoun
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loci,
plural
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loca
plural
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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:
They also found that healthy functioning of the locus coeruleus was related to the quality of REM sleep, a stage of sleep that plays an important role in memory.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 29, 2026
The locus coeruleus is especially interesting to Alzheimer's researchers because it is among the earliest brain regions where abnormal protein deposits can appear.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 29, 2026
Without those receptors, the animals became even more sensitive to touch and heat than mice whose locus coeruleus cells still had mu opioid receptors.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 27, 2026
FoodNet collects data from 10 states, none of which have been at the locus of the cyclosporiasis outbreak.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 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
They constructed a phylogeny of anglerfish using data from 1,092 genetic loci across 132 species, representing approximately 38% of described species, complemented by fossil calibrations and genomic data to estimate divergence times and ancestral habitats.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 2, 2024
Previous studies had identified 22 genetic risk loci -- that is, regions of our genome that contain changes associated with increased risk of developing the condition.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 5, 2024
They identified a total of three loci in the genome that are associated with the risk of ACE inhibitor-induced angioedema.
From Science Daily ● Jan. 31, 2024
Quintilian, even as he tips the hat to loci, expresses reservations—wondering whether, being so visual, it was quite so useful for memorizing ideas as it was for objects.
From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith
Definitions 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.
