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v. di·rect·ed, di·rect·ing, di·rects v.tr. 1. a. To manage or regulate the business or affairs of; be in charge of: direct a government agency. b. To supervise or oversee (an activity or process): direct the building of a new road. See Synonyms at conduct. 2. a. To give guidance and instruction to (actors or musicians, for example) in the rehearsal, performance, or production of a work. b. To supervise the performance or production of: direct a play; direct a film. 3. To give an order to; command: directed the student to answer. 4. To show or indicate the way for: directed us to the airport. 5. a. To cause to move in a certain direction or toward a certain object; turn or point: directed the light toward the end of the hall. b. To concentrate or focus (one's sight or attention, for example) on a particular object or activity. See Synonyms at aim. 6. a. To indicate the intended recipient on (a letter, for example). b. To address or adapt (remarks, for example) to a specific person, audience, or purpose. v.intr. 1. To give commands or directions. 2. To conduct a performance or rehearsal. adj. 1. Proceeding without interruption in a straight course or line; not deviating or swerving: a direct route. 2. Straightforward and candid; not devious or ambiguous: a direct response. 3. Having no intervening persons, conditions, or agencies; immediate: direct contact; direct sunlight. 4. Effected by action of the voters, rather than through elected representatives or delegates: direct elections. 5. Being of unbroken descent; lineal: a direct descendant of the monarch. 6. Consisting of the exact words of the writer or speaker: a direct quotation; direct speech. 7. Lacking compromising or mitigating elements; absolute: direct opposites. 8. Mathematics Varying in the same manner as another quantity, especially increasing if another quantity increases or decreasing if it decreases. 9. Astronomy Designating west-to-east motion of a planet in the same direction as the sun's apparent annual movement with respect to the stars. 10. Sports Being a direct free kick. adv. Straight; directly. [Middle English directen, from Latin dīrigere, dīrēct-, to give direction to : dī-, dis-, apart; see DIS- + regere, to guide; see reg- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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