1.(Rhet.) A particular stress of utterance, or force of voice, given in reading and speaking to one or more words whose signification the speaker intends to impress specially upon his audience. "The province of emphasis is so much more important than accent, that the customary seat of the latter is changed, when the claims of emphasis require it."
2.A peculiar impressiveness of expression or weight of thought; vivid representation, enforcing assent; as, to dwell on a subject with great emphasis. "External objects stand before us... in all the life and emphasis of extension, figure, and color."
3.A special attention given to, or extra importance attached to, something; as, a guided tour of Egypt with emphasis on the monuments along the Nile.
4.Something to which great importance is attached; as, the need for increased spending on education was the emphasis of his speech.
...