[syn: care, attention, aid, tending]
3. a general interest that leads people to want to know more;
- Example: "She was the center of attention"
4. a courteous act indicating affection;
- Example: "she tried to win his heart with her many attentions"
5. the faculty or power of mental concentration;
- Example: "keeping track of all the details requires your complete attention"
6. a motionless erect stance with arms at the sides and feet together; assumed by military personnel during drill or review;
- Example: "the troops stood at attention"
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Attention \At*ten"tion\, n. [L. attentio: cf. F. attention.]
1. The act or state of attending or heeding; the application
of the mind to any object of sense, representation, or
thought; notice; exclusive or special consideration;
earnest consideration, thought, or regard; obedient or
affectionate heed; the supposed power or faculty of
attending.
[1913 Webster]
They say the tongues of dying men
Enforce attention like deep harmony. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
Note: Attention is consciousness and something more. It is
consciousness voluntarily applied, under its law of
limitations, to some determinate object; it is
consciousness concentrated. --Sir W. Hamilton.
[1913 Webster]
2. An act of civility or courtesy; care for the comfort and
pleasure of others; as, attentions paid to a stranger.
[1913 Webster]
To pay attention to, To pay one's attentions to, to be
courteous or attentive to; to wait upon as a lover; to
court.
[1913 Webster]
Syn: Care; heed; study; consideration; application;
advertence; respect; regard.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
attention
n 1: the process whereby a person concentrates on some features
of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
[syn: attention, attending] [ant: inattention]
2: the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone
or something; "no medical care was required"; "the old car
needs constant attention" [syn: care, attention, aid,
tending]
3: a general interest that leads people to want to know more;
"She was the center of attention"
4: a courteous act indicating affection; "she tried to win his
heart with her many attentions"
5: the faculty or power of mental concentration; "keeping track
of all the details requires your complete attention"
6: a motionless erect stance with arms at the sides and feet
together; assumed by military personnel during drill or
review; "the troops stood at attention"