Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - attention

~ n 1 »WATCHING/LISTENING CAREFULLY« a) pay attention to carefully listen to or watch something that is happening, or to be careful about what you are doing  (The teacher got angry with me when I didn't pay attention.)  (The TV was on but Di wasn't paying much attention to it.) pay no attention to (=used to tell someone to ignore what someone says because it is not true or not important)  (Don't pay any attention to him - he's always saying stupid things. | pay little attention to/not pay much attention to (=behave in a way that shows that you do not think something or someone is very important))  (We heard noises coming from upstairs, but we didn't pay much attention to them.) b) give sb/sth your attention to listen to someone or study something carefully, especially so that you can deal with a problem  (give sb your full/undivided attention)  (Now he's gone, I can give you my undivided attention.) 2 »INTEREST« the interest that people show in someone or something  (She was flattered by all the attention he was giving her. | give sth attention)  (The press has given the story a lot of attention. | the centre of attention (=a person who everyone looks at and is interested in))  (Some people enjoy being the centre of attention. | the focus of attention (=the situation that people are most concerned about or consider to be most important))  (The focus of attention has shifted away from domestic issues. | hold/keep sb's attention (=make someone continue to be interested in something))  (Follett keeps the reader's attention throughout the book. | attention span (=the period of time during which you continue to be interested in something))  (Children generally have a short attention span.) 3 »MAKE SB NOTICE« a) attract/catch/get sb's attention to make someone notice you, especially because you want to speak to them or you need their help  (She tried to attract the waiter's attention.) b) attract attention if someone or something attracts attention, people notice them, especially because they look very interesting or unusual  (The band members couldn't go out in the street because they attracted too much attention.) c) get attention to make someone notice you and be interested in what you are doing  (Children are often bad in order to get attention.) d) draw attention to to make people notice and be concerned about something  (The article was intended to draw attention to the situation in Cambodia.) e) draw attention away from to make people stop being concerned about something such as a social problem f) bring sth to sb's attention to tell someone, especially someone in authority, about something such as a problem  (The matter was first brought to my attention earlier this year.) g) come to sb's attention if something such as a problem comes to the attention of someone in authority, they find out about it 4 »REPAIR/TREATMENT« a) something you do to repair or clean something, or make it work or be able to be used  (Honda 50cc for sale. Needs some attention.) b) treatment given to someone who is ill or injured  (medical attention) 5 »CARE« things that you do to help someone which show that you like them  (Pets need a lot of care and attention.) 6 »SOLDIERS« stand to attention/be at attention to stand up straight in neat lines  (attention! (=used when ordering a group of soldiers to stand up straight)) 7 »SPEECH/ANNOUNCEMENT« a) may/could I have your attention? spoken used in a formal situation when you want people to listen to you b) thank you for your attention spoken used at the end of a speech or statement to thank people for listening 8 »LETTER« for the attention of used on the front of an official letter when you want a particular person to read it or deal with it  (for the attention of the manager)