direct Hear it!

direct Definition

di·rect (də rekt′; also dī-)

adjective

  1. by the shortest way, without turning or stopping; not roundabout; not interrupted; straight a direct route
  2. honest and to the point; straightforward; frank a direct answer
  3. with nothing or no one between; immediate; close, firsthand, or personal direct contact, direct knowledge
  4. in an unbroken line of descent; lineal
  5. exact; complete; absolute the direct opposite
  6. in the exact words of the speaker a direct quotation
  7. not needing a mordant: said of certain dyes
  8. by or of action of the people through popular vote instead of through representatives or delegates
  9. Astron. from west to east
  10. Math. designating or of a relation between variables in which one increases or decreases with the other a direct proportion

Etymology: ME < L directus, pp. of dirigere, to lay straight, direct < di-, apart, from + regere, to keep straight, rule: see regal

transitive verb

  1. to manage the affairs, course, or action of; guide; conduct; regulate
  2. to order or command with authority
  3. to turn or point (a person or thing) toward an object or goal; aim; head
  4. to tell (a person) the way to a place
  5. to address (words, remarks, etc.) to a specific person or persons, or in a specific direction
  6. to write the name and address on (a letter, etc.)
    1. to plan the action and effects of (a play, film, etc.) and to supervise and instruct (the actors and technicians) in the carrying out of such a plan
    2. to rehearse and conduct the performance of (a choir, band, etc.)

intransitive verb

  1. to give directions; make a practice of directing
  2. to be a director, as of a group of performers

adverb

in a direct manner; directly

direct Related Forms

di·rect′·ness noun

direct Synonyms

direct

modif.

  1. Without divergence

    straight, in a straight line, straight ahead, undeviating, uninterrupted, right, unswerving, linear, straightaway, shortest, nonstop, through, in a bee line, as the crow flies, straight as an arrow, point-blank; see also straight 1.

    Antonyms zigzag*, roundabout*, crooked. *

  2. Frank

    straightforward, outspoken, candid; see frank, honest 1.

  3. With nothing or no one intervening

    immediate, firsthand, unmediated, close, personal, primary, verbatim; see also literal 1.

direct Synonyms

direct

v.

  1. To show the way

    conduct, show, guide, steer; see lead 1.

  2. To decide the course of affairs

    regulate, govern, influence; see command 2, manage 1.

  3. To teach

    inform, instruct, give directions; see advise 1, teach 1.

  4. To address

    deliver, lecture, read; see address 2.

  5. To aim

    point, train, level, focus; see aim 2.

  6. To command

    order, bid, charge; see command 1.

  7. To direct one's effort

    strive, address oneself, focus; see apply (oneself), try 1, undertake.

  8. To write directions on a letter or package

    inscribe, label, designate; see address 1, mark 1, 2. See syn. study at command, manage.

direct Law Definition

v

To order or cause a person or entity to carry out a course of action; more generally, to govern an enterprise or activity. Of a judge, the giving of a verbal instruction to a witness or jury to behave in a certain way, as in, “the witness is directed to answer yes or no to the questions” or “the jury is directed to disregard the defendant’s outburst.”

direct Usage Examples

Object

  • film: George Lucas shows that, finally, he has learned something about how to direct a film.
  • antibody: Antibodies directed against the envelope of SIV do not neutralize HIV and vise versa.
  • choir: It is hard to believe that a disk of this standard could have emanated from a voluntary choir directed by an undergraduate student.
  • inquiry: Please direct any enquiries concerning individual talks to the organizers of the appropriate seminar series.

Preposition: onto

retina: The image directed onto the retina is then sent along to the brain where it is processed, like developing a camera film.

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • buy: Buy these books direct from Amazon; or visit our bookshop to browse through a large range of Scottish books and maps.
  • send: If you are currently at school or college your LEA will send application forms direct to your school or college.

Modifies a noun

  • debit: Payments made by monthly direct debit are subject to an interest charge.
  • payment: To get direct payments, you need to have a social worker, who will assess you for the support you need.
  • sunlight: This hybrid form is designed to minimize the surface area exposed to direct sunlight.
  • marketing: EU Regulations on Direct Marketing There are many European Directives with relevance to the DM industry.
  • link: With new direct links to many major European cities, Riga has now opened its doors to the European tourist.
  • access: This in part is due to the lack of direct access from ward PCs to the hospital pharmacy.

Used with adjective complement

  • emailed: The story can be emailed direct from the BBC site.
  • deliver: You'll find the same quality and value - plus all the convenience of having your shopping delivered direct to your door.
  • fly: Do any low-cost airlines fly direct from the UK to Croatia?
  • send: Your glasses will be sent direct to your home.
  • sell: Please note, as trade only distributors we do not sell direct to the general public.
  • apply: The volume setting is a gain applied direct to the signal.

Preposition: from

publisher: We buy videos either direct from the publishers or from long established wholesalers.