emphasis

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the relative prominence of a syllable or musical note, especially with regard to stress or pitch

   When you're playing a march, put the emphasis on the first and third beats in each measure.

2. 2
   noun

   special importance or significance

   the red light gave the central figure increased emphasis

3. 3
   noun

   Special weight or forcefulness given to something considered important.

   He paused for emphasis before saying who had won.

4. 4
   noun

   Special attention or prominence given to something.

   Anglia TV's emphasis is on Norwich and district.

5. 5
   noun

   Prominence given to a syllable or words, by raising the voice or printing in italic or underlined type.

   He used a yellow highlighter to indicate where to give emphasis in his speech.

6. 6
   noun

   intensity or forcefulness of expression

7. 7
   noun

   special and significant stress by means of position or repetition e.g.

8. 8
   noun

   The phonetic or phonological feature that distinguishes emphatic consonants from other consonants.

Etymology

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