emphasis

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   Special importance or attention given to something

   The school places great emphasis on reading.

2. 2
   noun

   Extra force given to a word or idea to show it matters

   He paused for emphasis before announcing the winner.

3. 3
   noun

   The extra force or stress placed on a syllable or musical note

   When you play a march, put the emphasis on the first beat of each bar.

From Latin emphasis, from Ancient Greek ἔμφασις (émphasis, “significance”), from ἐμφαίνω (emphaínō, “to present; to indicate”), from ἐν- (en-, “in”) + φαίνω (phaínō, “to show”).

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