noun
locus
LOH-kuhs
noun
1
A particular place, especially one seen as a centre of activity.
"The old square became the locus of the protests."
"The lab is the locus of all the university's vaccine research."
2
In mathematics, the set of all points that satisfy a given condition or equation.
"The locus of points equidistant from a fixed point is a circle."
3
In genetics, the fixed position of a gene on a chromosome.
"Researchers identified a locus linked to the disorder."
How to Use Locus
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA fixed, specific location — used literally for places, and technically in maths (a set of points) and genetics (a gene's spot on a chromosome).
When to use it
Formal/technical; plural is "loci."
Common pairings
locus of control
locus of activity
genetic locus
Word Forms
loci plural, locuses plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “locus”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The old square became the _____ of the protests.
Etymology
A learned borrowing of Latin locus, "place." A doublet of the English word "lieu."