locus
nounUK /ˈləʊkəs/ · US /ˈloʊkəs/
Etymology Learned borrowing from Latin locus. Doublet of lieu.
1
A place or locality, especially a centre of activity or the scene of a crime.
- The cafeteria was the locus of activity.
2
Mathematics, Sciences The set of all points whose coordinates satisfy a given equation or condition.
- A circle is the locus of points from which the distance to the center is a given value, the radius.
3
Biology, Genetics, Medicine, Natural sciences, Sciences A fixed position on a string of DNA or RNA, especially a chromosome, that may be occupied by one or more genes.
- Holonyms: subband < band < region < replicon
- Meronyms: sublocus; gene, cistron; pseudogene
4
In plural A passage in writing, especially in a collection of ancient sacred writings arranged according to a theme.
- Derived terms
- eigenlocus, epilocus, homeolocus, interlocus, intralocus, locus classicus, locus coeruleus, locus of control, locus poenitentiae, locus standi, method of loci, minilocus, multilocus, sublocus, superlocus, translocus, vanishing locus, variable tandem repeat locus, zero locus
- Related terms
- local, locality, localization, localize, locant, locate, location, locator, locoregional, locus amoenus