emphasis-n; 3 Senses

Sense Number 1: being in a state of prominence or significance

Commentary: EMPHASIS[+state][+importance][+prominence]

Examples:
Their society places great emphasis on individual freedoms.
The candidate's platform puts more emphasis on domestic policies than international ones.
There was no emphasis on figuring out how to better motivate the students.

Mappings:
PropBank: emphasis.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1

Sense Number 2: stressed intonation in pronunciation

Commentary: EMPHASIS[+quality][+pronunciation][+intonation][+stressed]

Examples:
The emphasis should be on the second syllable.
The prosody of this poem places emphasis on every third syllable.
He spoke with emphasis and passion to the assembled crowd. (refers to manner of speaking, not content)

Mappings:
PropBank: emphasis.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 4

Sense Number 3: a quality of prominent style in a work, e.g., visual

Commentary: EMPHASIS[+quality][+style][+prominent][+visual/+conceptual/+musical]
NOTE: a narrowed sense of Sense 1, refers to stylistically achieved prominence in a work

Examples:
The interior decorator decided the emphasis of the room should center on the fireplace.
There is an emphasis on light and its placement in his paintings.
The emphasis of this musical motif is established through its repetition and embellishment.

Mappings:
PropBank: emphasis.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 2, 3