Dictionary

direct en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• [daɪ̯əˈɹɛkt] (Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• (California) audio
• /daɪˈɹɛkt/ (Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• /dɪˈɹɛkt/ (Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• /dəˈɹɛkt/ (Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• /dɪˈɹekt/ (Australia)
• /dəˈɹekt/ (New-Zealand)
• /dɑeˈɹekt/ (Australia)

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin dīrēctus, perfect passive participle of dīrigō (“straighten, direct”), from dis- (“asunder, in pieces, apart, in two”) + regō (“make straight, rule”). Compare dress. Doublet of derecho. For the meaning development compare with Russian напра́вить (naprávitʹ, “to direct, to turn, to aim, to level, to point”), отпра́вить (otprávitʹ, “to send, to dispatch, to forward”) connected with пра́вить (právitʹ, “to govern, to rule, to drive, to steer”).

Meanings

1. Proceeding without deviation or interruption.
2. Straight; not crooked, oblique, or circuitous; leading by the short or shortest way to a point or end.
   • the most direct route between two buildings
3. Straightforward; sincere.
   • Be even and direct with me. c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]:
4. Immediate; express; plain; unambiguous.
   • He nowhere, that I know, says it in direct words. 1689 December (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], chapter 1, in Two Treatises of Government: […], London: […] Awnsham Churchill, […], →OCLC:
   • Nor did the government scruple a direct and avowed interference with elections. 1827, Henry Hallam, “On the English Constitution from Henry VII. to Mary”, in The Constitutional History of England from the Accession of Henry VII. to the Death of George II. […], volume I, London: John Murray, […], →OCLC, page 48:
5. In the line of descent; not collateral.
   • a descendant in the direct line
6. In the direction of the general planetary motion, or from west to east; in the order of the signs; not retrograde; said of the motion of a celestial body.
7. Pertaining to, or effected immediately by, action of the people through their votes instead of through one or more representatives or delegates.
   • direct nomination; direct legislation
8. Having a single flight number.
9. (of a proof) Not employing the law of the excluded middle or argument by contradiction.

Forms

Antonyms

indirect · indirect

Deriveds

non-direct buffer · semidirect · direct-to-cell · direct orange · direct system · direct democracy · direct-to-video · undirect · direct question · direct-to-consumer · direct repeat · direct provision · direct air capture · direct-to-TV · direct-to-DVD · direct marketing · direct fire · direct evidence · transcranial direct current stimulation · direct cost · direct report · direct flight · direct descendant · direct debit · direct broadcast satellite · direct access · direct client contact · direct examination · direct inward dialing · direct verb · directness · direct-to-home · direct cut · hyperdirect · direct-to-streaming · direct product · direct activist · direct maternal death · direct bank · direct sum · direct free kick · dreckly · foreign direct investment · direct case · direct object · direct cremation · direct response · direct grant grammar school · direct quote · direct coupling · direct cinema · direct red card · direct limit · direct selling · direct action · direct mail · direct initiative · nondirect · direct exam · direct discourse · direct drive · direct registering · direct-inverse marking · direct buffer · direct message · direct election · direct rule · direct current · direct tax · direct primary · direct-to-cellphone · direct speech · direct-to-cellular · direct intent · direct deposit · direct sequel

Synonyms

immediate (proceeding uninterrupted) · univocal · patent · explicit (express, plain, unambiguous)

Translations (72)

sl neposreden (straight, constant, without interruption) · uk прями́й (straight, constant, without interruption) · sh nȅposredan (straight, constant, without interruption) · mi horipū (straight, constant, without interruption) · cs přímý (straight, constant, without interruption) · nn direkte (straight, constant, without interruption) · kw syth (straight, constant, without interruption) · sv omedelbar (straight, constant, without interruption) · el απευθείας (straight, constant, without interruption) · ca dret (straight, constant, without interruption) · mi arorangi (straight, constant, without interruption) · ro direct (straight, constant, without interruption) · ast direutu (straight, constant, without interruption) · gl directo (straight, constant, without interruption) · da direkte (straight, constant, without interruption) · sh дѝректан (straight, constant, without interruption) · it diretto (straight, constant, without interruption) · sk priamy (straight, constant, without interruption) · pt direto (straight, constant, without interruption) · eo rekta (straight, constant, without interruption) · wuu 直接 (straight, constant, without interruption) · sco airt (straight, constant, without interruption) · cy uniongyrchol (straight, constant, without interruption) · mi pūkaka (straight, constant, without interruption) · el άμεσος (straight, constant, without interruption) · fa راست (straight, constant, without interruption) · hu direkt (straight, constant, without interruption) · la dīrēctus (straight, constant, without interruption) · ar مُبَاشِر (straight, constant, without interruption) · be прамы́ (straight, constant, without interruption) · sq drejtë (straight, constant, without interruption) · uk безпосере́дній (straight, constant, without interruption) · be непасрэ́дны (straight, constant, without interruption) · mk директен (straight, constant, without interruption) · sh dìrektan (straight, constant, without interruption) · mi tohitū (straight, constant, without interruption) · pl bezpośredni (straight, constant, without interruption) · es directo (straight, constant, without interruption) · hi सीधा (straight, constant, without interruption) · bg непосре́дствен (straight, constant, without interruption) · fa مستقیم (straight, constant, without interruption) · ru постоя́нный (straight, constant, without interruption) · mk непосреден (straight, constant, without interruption) · de unmittelbar (straight, constant, without interruption) · de direkt (straight, constant, without interruption) · sv direkt (straight, constant, without interruption) · et otse (straight, constant, without interruption) · ja 直接の (straight, constant, without interruption) · kw didro (straight, constant, without interruption) · fr direct (straight, constant, without interruption) · sh не̏посредан (straight, constant, without interruption) · ht dirèk (straight, constant, without interruption) · ko 직접의 (straight, constant, without interruption) · fur dret (straight, constant, without interruption) · ru прямо́й (straight, constant, without interruption) · sl direkten (straight, constant, without interruption) · la prōrsus (straight, constant, without interruption) · hu közvetlen (straight, constant, without interruption) · tr doğrudan doğruya (straight, constant, without interruption) · ia directe (straight, constant, without interruption) · nl direct (straight, constant, without interruption) · ru непосре́дственный (straight, constant, without interruption) · cy syth (straight, constant, without interruption) · cmn 直接 (straight, constant, without interruption) · ca directe (straight, constant, without interruption) · fi suora (straight, constant, without interruption) · bg пряк (straight, constant, without interruption) · nb direkte (straight, constant, without interruption) · ur سیدھا (straight, constant, without interruption) · hu egyenes (straight, constant, without interruption) · tg мустақим (straight, constant, without interruption) · ko 직접적 (straight, constant, without interruption)

direct en · ADV

Pronunciation

• [daɪ̯əˈɹɛkt] (Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• (California) audio
• /daɪˈɹɛkt/ (Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• /dɪˈɹɛkt/ (Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• /dəˈɹɛkt/ (Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• /dɪˈɹekt/ (Australia)
• /dəˈɹekt/ (New-Zealand)
• /dɑeˈɹekt/ (Australia)

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin dīrēctus, perfect passive participle of dīrigō (“straighten, direct”), from dis- (“asunder, in pieces, apart, in two”) + regō (“make straight, rule”). Compare dress. Doublet of derecho. For the meaning development compare with Russian напра́вить (naprávitʹ, “to direct, to turn, to aim, to level, to point”), отпра́вить (otprávitʹ, “to send, to dispatch, to forward”) connected with пра́вить (právitʹ, “to govern, to rule, to drive, to steer”).

Meanings

1. Directly.
   • Presumably Mary is to carry messages that she, Anne, is too delicate to convey direct. 2009, Hilary Mantel, Wolf Hall, Fourth Estate, published 2010, page 346:
   • The walls, which are fixed direct into the ground without a plinth, are made of wattle and plastered with a thin lair of mud or cowdung. 1912, Central Provinces (India), Central Provinces District Gazetteers, page 96:

Forms

direct en · VERB

Pronunciation

• [daɪ̯əˈɹɛkt] (Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• (California) audio
• /daɪˈɹɛkt/ (Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• /dɪˈɹɛkt/ (Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• /dəˈɹɛkt/ (Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• /dɪˈɹekt/ (Australia)
• /dəˈɹekt/ (New-Zealand)
• /dɑeˈɹekt/ (Australia)

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin dīrēctus, perfect passive participle of dīrigō (“straighten, direct”), from dis- (“asunder, in pieces, apart, in two”) + regō (“make straight, rule”). Compare dress. Doublet of derecho. For the meaning development compare with Russian напра́вить (naprávitʹ, “to direct, to turn, to aim, to level, to point”), отпра́вить (otprávitʹ, “to send, to dispatch, to forward”) connected with пра́вить (právitʹ, “to govern, to rule, to drive, to steer”).

Meanings

1. To manage, control, steer.
   • to direct the affairs of a nation or the movements of an army
   • Pent up in Utica he vainly forms A poor Epitome of Roman Greatneſs, And, cover’d with Numidian Guards, directs A feeble Army, and an empty Senate, Remnants of mighty Battels fought in vain. 1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, page 2:
2. To aim (something) at (something else).
   • He directed his question to the room in general.
   • They directed their fire towards the men on the wall.
3. To point out to or show (somebody) the right course or way; to guide, as by pointing out the way; to refer.
   • He directed me to the left-hand road.
   • the next points to which I will direct your attention 1882, John Lubbock, Flowers, Fruits and Leaves:
4. To point out to with authority; to instruct as a superior; to order.
   • I'll first direct my men what they shall do. c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:
   • She directed them to leave immediately.
5. (dated) To address (a letter) to a particular person or place.
   • [A]s I do not know where I shall be, and shall have my letters sent after me as soon as I do know, continue to direct hither. 1792, Charlotte Smith, Desmond, Broadview, published 2001, page 310:

Forms

Deriveds

subdirect · directrix · undirect · co-direct · directee · overdirecting · misdirect · redirective · underdirect · stereodirect · overdirect · outdirect · redirect · directability · directable · codirect

Relateds

dirigible · adroit · dirge · dress · directly · director · direction

Synonyms

point

Translations (104)

la dominor (to manage, control, steer) · da rette (to aim at) · ru режиссировать (to be in charge of the direction of a film) · ru управля́ть (to manage, control, steer) · fi käskeä (to order) · sk nariadiť (to order) · fa هدایت کردن (to aim at) · es dirigir (to order) · kk басқару (to manage, control, steer) · uk керувати (to manage, control, steer) · es direccionar (to be in charge of the direction of a film) · da inscenesætte (to be in charge of the direction of a play) · pl kierować (to manage, control, steer) · es dirigir (to be in charge of the direction of a play) · grc εὐθύνω (to manage, control, steer) · pl kazać (to order) · bg насочвам (to aim at) · mi whakakeko (to aim at) · sk riadiť (to manage, control, steer) · pl reżyserować (to be in charge of the direction of a film) · kk көздеу (to aim at) · es dirigir (to aim at) · pt dirigir (to manage, control, steer) · fr ordonner (to order) · sv styra (to manage, control, steer) · enm dressen (to aim at) · pl kierować (to aim at) · he ניהל (to manage, control, steer) · pt direcionar (to aim at) · ca dirigir (to manage, control, steer) · bg ръково́дя (to manage, control, steer) · oc dirigir (to manage, control, steer) · sk mieriť (to aim at) · ga treoraigh (to manage, control, steer) · fi ohjata (to manage, control, steer) · grc συντάσσω (to order) · no sette i scene (to be in charge of the direction of a play) · kk бағыттау (to aim at) · el απευθύνομαι (to aim at) · ast dirixir (to manage, control, steer) · kk кезеу (to aim at) · es direccionar (to manage, control, steer) · de beaufsichtigen (to manage, control, steer) · ar وَجَّه (to manage, control, steer) · de inszenieren (to be in charge of the direction of a play) · sv leda (to manage, control, steer) · sk režírovať (to be in charge of the direction of a film) · ga deachtaigh (to manage, control, steer) · hu rendez (to be in charge of the direction of a film) · fi ohjata (to order) · io direktar (to manage, control, steer) · ar أَخْرَجَ (to be in charge of the direction of a play) · fi tähdätä (to aim at) · pl inscenizować (to be in charge of the direction of a play) · es dirigir (to manage, control, steer) · ru наце́лить (to aim at) · sv rikta (to aim at) · el απευθύνω (to aim at) · es direccionar (to aim at) · sk nariaďovať (to order) · fi ohjata (to be in charge of the direction of a film) · bg управлявам (to manage, control, steer) · ar قَاد (to manage, control, steer) · ru напра́вить (to aim at) · eo aldirekti (to manage, control, steer) · sq udhëzoj (to manage, control, steer) · de befehlen (to order) · ca adreçar (to aim at) · sk režírovať (to be in charge of the direction of a play) · da lede (to manage, control, steer) · gl dirixir (to manage, control, steer) · ru наце́ливать (to aim at) · ru направля́ть (to aim at) · mi whakangoto (to aim at) · fi ohjata (to be in charge of the direction of a play) · enm dressen (to manage, control, steer) · sv regissera (to be in charge of the direction of a film) · sa राष्टि (to manage, control, steer) · sk namieriť (to aim at) · da dirigere (to manage, control, steer) · fr mettre en scène (to be in charge of the direction of a play) · id menyutradarai (to be in charge of the direction of a film) · de richten (to aim at) · eo reĝisori (to be in charge of the direction of a film) · pl zainscenizować (to be in charge of the direction of a play) · ky жөндөө (to aim at) · pl nakazać (to order) · pdt befälen (to order) · he כיוון (to aim at) · de zielen (to aim at) · es direccionar (to order) · es direccionar (to be in charge of the direction of a play) · fa رایانیدن (to manage, control, steer) · pl wyreżyserować (to be in charge of the direction of a film) · bg упътвам (to aim at) · ar أَخْرَجَ (to be in charge of the direction of a film) · es dirigir (to be in charge of the direction of a film) · fa اداره کردن (to manage, control, steer) · kk режиссерлік ету (to be in charge of the direction of a film) · sk adresovať (to aim at) · uk скеровувати (to aim at) · eo gvidi (to manage, control, steer) · hu rendez (to be in charge of the direction of a play) · sk upriamiť (to aim at)