Direct
Pronunciation
- IPA: /dɪˈrɛkt/, /ˌdaɪˈrɛkt/, /dɚˈɛkt/
- Rhymes: -ɛkt
Origin
From Latin dīrectus, perfect passive participle of dīrigŠ("straighten, direct"), from dis- ("asunder, in pieces, apart, in two") + regŠ("make straight, rule").
Full definition of direct
Adjective
direct
- Straight, constant, without interruption.
- 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
- Straightforward; sincere.
- ShakespeareBe even and direct with me.
- Immediate; express; plain; unambiguous.
- John LockeHe nowhere, that I know, says it in direct words.
- Hallama direct and avowed interference with elections
- In the line of descent; not collateral.a descendant in the direct line
- (astronomy) 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.
Antonyms
Adverb
direct
- Directly.
- 2009, Hilary Mantel, Wolf Hall, Fourth Estate 2010, p. 346:Presumably Mary is to carry messages that she, Anne, is too delicate to convey direct.
Verb
- To manage, control, steer.to direct the affairs of a nation or the movements of an army
- To aim (something) at (something else).They directed their fire towards the men on the wall.He directed his question to the room in general.
- To point out or show to (somebody) the right course or way; to guide, as by pointing out the way.He directed me to the left-hand road.
- Lubbockthe next points to which I will direct your attention
- To point out to with authority; to instruct as a superior; to order.She directed them to leave immediately.
- ShakespeareI'll first direct my men what they shall do.
- (dated) To put a direction or address upon; to mark with the name and residence of the person to whom anything is sent.to direct a letter