English Dictionary

Definition of “direct”

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direct (dɪˈrɛktPronunciation for direct;daɪ-) 

Definitions

verb (mainly tr)

  1. to regulate, conduct, or control the affairs of
  2. (also intr) to give commands or orders with authority to (a person or group)  ⇒ he directed them to go away 
  3. to tell or show (someone) the way to a place
  4. to aim, point, or cause to move towards a goal
  5. to address (a letter, parcel, etc)
  6. to address (remarks, words, etc)  ⇒ to direct comments at someone 
  7. (also intr) to provide guidance to (actors, cameramen, etc) in the rehearsal of a play or the filming of a motion picture
  8. (also intr)
    1. to conduct (a piece of music or musicians), usually while performing oneself
    2. another word (esp US) for conduct (sense 9)

adjective

  1. without delay or evasion; straightforward  ⇒ a direct approach 
  2. without turning aside; uninterrupted; shortest; straight  ⇒ a direct route 
  3. without intervening persons or agencies; immediate  ⇒ a direct link 
  4. honest; frank; candid  ⇒ a direct answer 
  5. (usually prenominal) precise; exact  ⇒ a direct quotation 
  6. diametrical  ⇒ the direct opposite 
  7. in an unbroken line of descent, as from father to son over succeeding generations  ⇒ a direct descendant 
  8. (of government, decisions, etc) by or from the electorate rather than through representatives
  9. logic mathematics (of a proof) progressing from the premises to the conclusion, rather than eliminating the possibility of the falsehood of the conclusion Compare indirect proof
  10. astronomy moving from west to east on the celestial sphere Compare retrograde (sense 4a)
    1. of or relating to direct current
    2. (of a secondary induced current) having the same direction as the primary current
  12. music 
    1. (of motion) in the same direction See motion (sense 9)
    2. (of an interval or chord) in root position; not inverted

adverb

  1. directly; straight  ⇒ he went direct to the office 

Alternative Forms

diˈrectness noun

Word Origin

C14: from Latin dīrectus;  from dīrigere  to guide, from dis-  apart + regere to rule

Translations

  • British English: direct Pronunciation for direct Direct means moving towards a place or object, without changing direction and without stopping, for example in a journey.They'd come on a direct flight from Moscow.dɪˈrɛkt; daɪ- ADJECTIVE They'd come on a direct flight from Moscow.
  • Spanish: directo Pronunciation for directo adj directa
  • French: direct Pronunciation for direct adj
  • German: direkt Pronunciation for direkt adj
  • Chinese: 直接的Pronunciation for 直接的 adj
  • Arabic: مُبَاشِرَةًPronunciation for مُبَاشِرَةً adj
  • Portuguese: directoPronunciation for directo adj directa
  • Russian: прямойPronunciation for прямой adj прямая
  • Croatian: izravanPronunciation for izravan adj izravna
  • Czech: přímýPronunciation for přímý adj
  • Danish: direktePronunciation for direkte adj
  • Dutch: directPronunciation for direct adj
  • Finnish: suoraPronunciation for suora adj
  • Greek: άμεσοςPronunciation for άμεσος adj άμεση
  • Italian: direttoPronunciation for diretto adj diretta
  • Japanese: 率直なPronunciation for 率直な no_posp
  • Korean: 직접의Pronunciation for 직접의 adj
  • Norwegian: direktePronunciation for direkte adj
  • Polish: bezpośredniPronunciation for bezpośredni adj bezpośrednia
  • Brazilian Portuguese: diretoPronunciation for direto adj direta
  • European Spanish: directo Pronunciation for directo adj directa
  • Swedish: rättframPronunciation for rättfram adj rättframt
  • Thai: ควบคุมการทำงานPronunciation for ควบคุมการทำงาน adj
  • Turkish: kestirmePronunciation for kestirme adj
  • Vietnamese: trực tiếpPronunciation for trực tiếp adj
  • British English: direct Pronunciation for direct If you direct something at a particular thing, you aim or point it at that thing.I directed the extinguisher at the fire without effect.dɪˈrɛkt; daɪ- VERB I directed the extinguisher at the fire without effect.
  • Spanish: dirigir Pronunciation for dirigir v
  • French: diriger Pronunciation for diriger vt
  • German: leiten Pronunciation for leiten v
  • Chinese: 指挥Pronunciation for 指挥 vt
  • Arabic: يُوجهPronunciation for يُوجه vt
  • Portuguese: dirigirPronunciation for dirigir vt
  • Russian: руководитьPronunciation for руководить vt
  • Croatian: usmjeritiPronunciation for usmjeriti v
  • Czech: říditPronunciation for řídit vt
  • Danish: rette modPronunciation for rette mod v
  • Dutch: leidenPronunciation for leiden vt
  • Finnish: ohjataPronunciation for ohjata v
  • Greek: διευθύνωPronunciation for διευθύνω v
  • Italian: dirigerePronunciation for dirigere v
  • Japanese: 監督するPronunciation for 監督する v
  • Korean: ...을 이끌다Pronunciation for ...을 이끌다 vt
  • Norwegian: ledePronunciation for lede v
  • Polish: skierowaćPronunciation for skierować vt kierować
  • Brazilian Portuguese: dirigirPronunciation for dirigir vt
  • European Spanish: dirigir Pronunciation for dirigir v
  • Swedish: ledaPronunciation for leda vt
  • Thai: จัดการPronunciation for จัดการ vt
  • Turkish: yönetmekPronunciation for yönetmek vt
  • Vietnamese: chỉ đạoPronunciation for chỉ đạo v

Usage examples

  • The Dog didn't answer, merely wriggling to direct Sam's scratching hand farther down her back.
    Garth Nix, LIRAEL: DAUGHTER OF THE CLAYR (2001)
  • Transport links Train: There is a direct , regular train from London Paddington to Penzance.
    Country Life (2005)
  • Mr McGuinness refused to go into detail about discussions at yesterday's Executive meeting but he described the exchanges as direct.
    Irish Times (2002)
  • The move is a direct retaliation for her successfully gaining a court order to bar his mistress, Judith Nathan, 46, from the house.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • This is in direct contrast to the linearity we see in the urban world.
    Amoda, MOVING INTO ECSTASY: An Urban Mystic's Guide to Movement, Music and Meditation (2001)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'D'

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