DictionaryAI

locus

noun
SayLOH-kuhsUS/ˈloʊkəs/UK/ˈləʊkəs/

Pluralloci, locuses

5 meanings of locus

Practice

  1. 1
    placenouncountable
    A place, especially one where a lot happens or where a crime took place.

    The kitchen is the locus of family life in our house.

    The old town square became the locus of the protests all summer.

    UsageSay the locus of something for the place where it mostly happens.

    Similarcenter, hub, focus, scene, site

  2. 2
    gene positionnouncountable
    A fixed spot on a strand of DNA or RNA, often on a chromosome, where a gene can be.

    Doctors found a change at one locus that may explain the illness.

    This gene sits at a locus near the end of the chromosome.

    Note
  3. 3
    geometrynouncountable
    In math, all the points that fit a certain rule, which together often form a line or curve.

    The locus of points halfway between the two parallel lines is another line right in the middle.

    Our teacher asked us to find the locus and draw it on graph paper.

    Note
  4. 4
    nouncountable
    The place where something you cannot touch, like power or control, is found or comes from.

    In our family, Grandma was the locus of power: nothing happened without her okay.

    People with an internal locus of control believe their own choices shape their lives.

    UsageSay the locus of power for where power really lies.

    Similarcenter, seat, focus, source

    Note

Less common meaning

  1. 5
    noun
    A part of a written text, especially in an old collection of holy writings grouped by topic.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of locus apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From the Latin word locus.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact