Library / English Dictionary

DIRECT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (adjective) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Lacking compromising or mitigating elements; exact

Example:

the direct opposite

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

absolute (perfect or complete or pure)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Direct in spatial dimensions; proceeding without deviation or interruption; straight and short

Example:

a direct hit

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

through ((of a route or journey etc.) continuing without requiring stops or changes)

undeviating; unswerving (going directly ahead from one point to another without veering or turning aside)

straightforward (pointed directly ahead)

point-blank (close enough to go straight to the target)

nonstop ((of a journey especially a flight) occurring without stops)

door-to-door ((of e.g. journeys or deliveries) direct from point of origin to point of destination)

Also:

straight (having no deviations)

Attribute:

directness; straightness (trueness of course toward a goal)

Antonym:

indirect (not direct in spatial dimension; not leading by a straight line or course to a destination)

Sense 3

Meaning:

(of a current) flowing in one direction only

Example:

direct current

Classified under:

Adjectives

Domain category:

electricity (a physical phenomenon associated with stationary or moving electrons and protons)

Antonym:

alternating ((of a current) reversing direction)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Straightforward in means or manner or behavior or language or action

Example:

a direct approach

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

upfront (frank and honest)

square; straight; straightforward (without evasion or compromise)

pointed (direct and obvious in meaning or reference; often unpleasant)

plain; unvarnished (free from any effort to soften to disguise)

no-nonsense (not tolerating irrelevancies)

man-to-man (forthright and honest)

flat-footed; flatfooted (forthright and explicit)

brutal (disagreeably direct and precise)

blunt; candid; forthright; frank; free-spoken; outspoken; plainspoken; point-blank; straight-from-the-shoulder (characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion)

bluff (bluntly direct and outspoken but good-natured)

Also:

honest; honorable (not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent)

Antonym:

indirect (extended senses; not direct in manner or language or behavior or action)

Derivation:

directness (the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Similar in nature or effect or relation to another quantity

Example:

a term is in direct proportion to another term if it increases (or decreases) as the other increases (or decreases)

Classified under:

Adjectives

Domain category:

math; mathematics; maths (a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement)

Antonym:

inverse (opposite in nature or effect or relation to another quantity)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Moving from west to east on the celestial sphere; or--for planets--around the sun in the same direction as the Earth

Classified under:

Adjectives

Domain category:

astronomy; uranology (the branch of physics that studies celestial bodies and the universe as a whole)

Antonym:

retrograde (moving from east to west on the celestial sphere; or--for planets--around the sun in a direction opposite to that of the Earth)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Having no intervening persons, agents, conditions

Example:

direct vote

Synonyms:

direct; unmediated

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

immediate (having no intervening medium)

Sense 8

Meaning:

In precisely the same words used by a writer or speaker

Example:

repeated their dialog verbatim

Synonyms:

direct; verbatim

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

exact (marked by strict and particular and complete accordance with fact)

Sense 9

Meaning:

In a straight unbroken line of descent from parent to child

Example:

direct heredity

Synonyms:

direct; lineal

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

matrilineal; matrilinear (based on or tracing descent through the female line)

patrilineal; patrilinear (based on or tracing descent through the male line)

unilateral (tracing descent from either the paternal or the maternal line only)

Also:

related (connected by kinship, common origin, or marriage)

Sense 10

Meaning:

Being an immediate result or consequence

Example:

a direct result of the accident

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

primary (of first rank or importance or value; direct and immediate rather than secondary)

Derivation:

directness (trueness of course toward a goal)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Plan and direct (a complex undertaking)

Example:

he masterminded the robbery

Synonyms:

direct; engineer; mastermind; orchestrate; organise; organize

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "direct" is one way to...):

plan (make plans for something)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "direct"):

choreograph (plan and oversee the development and details of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

directive (showing the way by conducting or leading; imposing direction on)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Specifically design a product, event, or activity for a certain public

Synonyms:

aim; calculate; direct

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "direct" is one way to...):

designate; destine; intend; specify (design or destine)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Command with authority

Example:

He directed the children to do their homework

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "direct" is one way to...):

enjoin; order; say; tell (give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "direct"):

stet (printing: direct that a matter marked for omission or correction is to be retained (used in the imperative))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE

Sentence example:

They direct him to write the letter

Derivation:

directive (a pronouncement encouraging or banning some activity)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Give directions to; point somebody into a certain direction

Example:

I directed them towards the town hall

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "direct" is one way to...):

apprise; apprize; instruct (make aware of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "direct"):

talk down (direct and control (the flight of an airplane during landing) via radio)

point the way (indicate the right path or direction)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody PP

Sense 5

Meaning:

Put an address on (an envelope)

Synonyms:

address; direct

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "direct" is one way to...):

label (assign a label to; designate with a label)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "direct"):

misaddress; misdirect (put a wrong address on)

instrument (address a legal document to)

re-address (put a new address on (an envelope), as for forwarding)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 6

Meaning:

Intend (something) to move towards a certain goal

Example:

direct your anger towards others, not towards yourself

Synonyms:

aim; direct; place; point; target

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Hypernyms (to "direct" is one way to...):

aim; direct; take; take aim; train (point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "direct"):

address (direct a question at someone)

home in; range in; zero in (direct onto a point or target, especially by automatic navigational aids)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 7

Meaning:

Point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards

Example:

Take a swipe at one's opponent

Synonyms:

aim; direct; take; take aim; train

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Hypernyms (to "direct" is one way to...):

position (cause to be in an appropriate place, state, or relation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "direct"):

sight (take aim by looking through the sights of a gun (or other device))

level (aim at)

charge; level; point (direct into a position for use)

swing (hit or aim at with a sweeping arm movement)

turn (direct at someone)

hold (aim, point, or direct)

draw a bead on (aim with a gun)

aim; direct; place; point; target (intend (something) to move towards a certain goal)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something PP
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 8

Meaning:

Guide the actors in (plays and films)

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "direct" is one way to...):

create; make (make or cause to be or to become)

Domain category:

performing arts (arts or skills that require public performance)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "direct"):

stage direct (direct for the stage)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue direct the movie

Derivation:

director (someone who supervises the actors and directs the action in the production of a show)

Sense 9

Meaning:

Lead, as in the performance of a composition

Example:

conduct an orchestra; Barenboim conducted the Chicago symphony for years

Synonyms:

conduct; direct; lead

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "direct" is one way to...):

do; execute; perform (carry out or perform an action)

Verb group:

conduct (lead musicians in the performance of)

Domain category:

music (musical activity (singing or whistling etc.))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

director (the person who leads a musical group)

Sense 10

Meaning:

Direct the course; determine the direction of travelling

Synonyms:

channelise; channelize; direct; guide; head; maneuver; manoeuver; manoeuvre; point; steer

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "direct" is one way to...):

command; control (exercise authoritative control or power over)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "direct"):

park (maneuver a vehicle into a parking space)

corner; tree (force a person or an animal into a position from which he cannot escape)

channel (direct the flow of)

navigate; pilot (act as the navigator in a car, plane, or vessel and plan, direct, plot the path and position of the conveyance)

conn (conduct or direct the steering of a ship or plane)

starboard (turn to the right, of helms or rudders)

stand out (steer away from shore, of ships)

navigate (direct carefully and safely)

crab (direct (an aircraft) into a crosswind)

helm (be at or take the helm of)

pull over (steer a vehicle to the side of the road)

sheer (cause to sheer)

dock (maneuver into a dock)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 11

Meaning:

Cause to go somewhere

Example:

He directed all his energies into his dissertation

Synonyms:

direct; send

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "direct" is one way to...):

displace; move (cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "direct"):

blow (cause air to go in, on, or through)

airt; redirect (channel into a new direction)

refer (send or direct for treatment, information, or a decision)

route (send via a specific route)

divert (send on a course or in a direction different from the planned or intended one)

turn (to send or let go)

turn (channel one's attention, interest, thought, or attention toward or away from something)

cast; contrive; project; throw (put or send forth)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 12

Meaning:

Take somebody somewhere

Example:

He conducted us to the palace

Synonyms:

conduct; direct; guide; lead; take

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "direct"):

beacon (guide with a beacon)

hand (guide or conduct or usher somewhere)

lead astray; misdirect; misguide; mislead (lead someone in the wrong direction or give someone wrong directions)

show; usher (take (someone) to their seats, as in theaters or auditoriums)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 13

Meaning:

Be in charge of

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "direct" is one way to...):

care; deal; handle; manage (be in charge of, act on, or dispose of)

Cause:

act; move (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action))

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "direct"):

give; have; hold; make; throw (organize or be responsible for)

guide; steer (be a guiding or motivating force or drive)

head; lead (be in charge of)

operate; run (direct or control; projects, businesses, etc.)

administer (direct the taking of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

directive (showing the way by conducting or leading; imposing direction on)

director (someone who controls resources and expenditures)

 III. (adverb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Without deviation

Example:

went direct to the office

Synonyms:

direct; directly; straight

Classified under:

Adverbs

Credits

 Context examples: 

These proteins direct a complex network of protein filaments that provide stability to the cellular infrastructure by supporting the dynamic motility of microfilaments, thereby enabling intracellular translocation and organelle transport.

(Actin-Binding Protein, NCI Thesaurus)

Pathogenesis involves immune dysfunction with antibodies directed against erythroid precursor cells or erythropoietin, or due to T-cell mediated suppression of erythropoiesis.

(Acquired pure red cell aplasia, NCI Thesaurus)

Writing, thinking, and directing all at once might well bewilder the poor lady, and Meg begged her to sit quietly in her room for a little while, and let them work.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Stimulation of GHSR may also reduce the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and interleukin-6, which may play a direct role in cancer-related loss of appetite.

(Anamorelin, NCI Thesaurus)

Ambenonium also has direct agonist activity at nicotinic receptors, potentiating the cholinomimetic effect at the neuromuscular junction.

(Ambenonium, NCI Thesaurus)

A recombinant DNA-derived humanized monoclonal antibody directed against the cell surface glycoprotein, CD52.

(Alemtuzumab, NCI Thesaurus)

In the direct pathway, recipient T cells react to intact allogeneic MHC molecules expressed on the surface of donor cells.

(Allograft Rejection Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/KEGG)

Any monoclonal antibody directed against an alpha-beta T-Cell receptor.

(Alpha-Beta T-Cell Receptor Antibody, NCI Thesaurus)

This modesty of mine directed my attention to the marine-store shops, and such shops as Mr. Dolloby's, in preference to the regular dealers.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Instead, they play a direct role in immunity, gene regulation and other biological mechanisms.

(Discovery of RNA transfer through royal jelly could aid development of honey bee vaccines, University of Cambridge)