English dictionary



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English adjective: direct

1. direct direct in spatial dimensions; proceeding without deviation or interruption; straight and short


SamplesA direct route.
A direct flight.
A direct hit.


Similardoor-to-door, nonstop, point-blank, straightforward, through, undeviating, unswerving


See alsostraight


Attributedirectness, straightness


Antonymsindirect

2. direct having no intervening persons, agents, conditions


SamplesIn direct sunlight.
In direct contact with the voters.
Direct exposure to the disease.
A direct link.
The direct cause of the accident.
Direct vote.


Synonymsunmediated


Similarimmediate


Antonymsmediate

3. direct straightforward in means or manner or behavior or language or action


SamplesA direct question.
A direct response.
A direct approach.


Similarbluff, blunt, brutal, candid, flat-footed, forthright, frank, free-spoken, man-to-man, no-nonsense, outspoken, plain, plainspoken, point-blank, pointed, square, straight, straight-from-the-shoulder, straightforward, unvarnished, upfront


See alsohonest, honorable


Antonymsindirect

4. direct in a straight unbroken line of descent from parent to child


SamplesLineal ancestors.
Lineal heirs.
A direct descendant of the king.
Direct heredity.


Synonymslineal


Similarmatrilineal, matrilinear, patrilineal, patrilinear, unilateral


See alsorelated


Antonymscollateral, indirect

5. direct moving from west to east on the celestial sphere; or--for planets--around the sun in the same direction as the Earth


Domain categoryastronomy, uranology


Antonymsretrograde

6. direct similar in nature or effect or relation to another quantity


SamplesA term is in direct proportion to another term if it increases (or decreases) as the other increases (or decreases).


Domain categorymath, mathematics, maths


Antonymsinverse

7. direct (of a current) flowing in one direction only


SamplesDirect current.


Domain categoryelectricity


Antonymsalternating

8. direct being an immediate result or consequence


SamplesA direct result of the accident.


Similarprimary


Antonymssecondary

9. direct in precisely the same words used by a writer or speaker


SamplesA direct quotation.
Repeated their dialog verbatim.


Synonymsverbatim


Similarexact


Antonymsinexact

10. direct lacking compromising or mitigating elements; exact


SamplesThe direct opposite.


Similarabsolute


Antonymsrelative, comparative


English adverb: direct

1. direct without deviation


SamplesThe path leads directly to the lake.
Went direct to the office.


Synonymsdirectly, straight


English verb: direct

1. direct (communication) command with authority


SamplesHe directed the children to do their homework.


ExamplesThey direct him to write the letter


Pattern of useSomebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE


Broader (hypernym)enjoin, order, say, tell


Narrower (hyponym)stet

2. direct (competition) intend (something) to move towards a certain goal


SamplesHe aimed his fists towards his opponent's face.
Criticism directed at her superior.
Direct your anger towards others, not towards yourself.


Synonymsaim, place, point, target


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Somebody ----s somebody


Broader (hypernym)aim, direct, take, take aim, train


Narrower (hyponym)address, home in, range in, zero in

3. direct (creation) guide the actors in (plays and films)


ExamplesSam and Sue direct the movie


Pattern of useSomebody ----s.
Somebody ----s something


Broader (hypernym)create, make


Narrower (hyponym)stage direct


Domain categoryperforming arts

4. direct (social) be in charge of


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Somebody ----s somebody


Broader (hypernym)care, deal, handle, manage


Narrower (hyponym)administer, give, guide, have, head, hold, lead, make, operate, run, steer, throw


Causeact, move

5. direct (motion) take somebody somewhere


SamplesWe lead him to our chief.
Can you take me to the main entrance?.
He conducted us to the palace.


Synonymsconduct, guide, lead, take


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Somebody ----s somebody.
Something ----s somebody.
Something ----s something


Narrower (hyponym)beacon, hand, lead astray, misdirect, misguide, mislead, show, usher

6. direct (motion) cause to go somewhere


SamplesThe explosion sent the car flying in the air.
She sent her children to camp.
He directed all his energies into his dissertation.


Synonymssend


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Somebody ----s somebody.
Something ----s something.
Somebody ----s somebody PP.
Somebody ----s something PP


Broader (hypernym)displace, move


Narrower (hyponym)airt, blow, cast, contrive, divert, project, redirect, refer, route, throw, turn, turn

7. direct (competition) point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards


SamplesPlease don't aim at your little brother!.
He trained his gun on the burglar.
Don't train your camera on the women.
Take a swipe at one's opponent.


Synonymsaim, take, take aim, train


Pattern of useSomebody ----s.
Somebody ----s something PP.
Somebody ----s PP


Broader (hypernym)position


Narrower (hyponym)aim, charge, direct, draw a bead on, hold, level, level, place, point, point, sight, swing, target, turn

8. direct (creation) lead, as in the performance of a composition


SamplesConduct an orchestra; Barenboim conducted the Chicago symphony for years.


Synonymsconduct, lead


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something


Broader (hypernym)do, execute, perform


Verb groupconduct


Domain categorymusic

9. direct (communication) give directions to; point somebody into a certain direction


SamplesI directed them towards the town hall.


Pattern of useSomebody ----s somebody.
Somebody ----s somebody PP


Broader (hypernym)apprise, apprize, instruct


Narrower (hyponym)point the way, talk down

10. direct (cognition) specifically design a product, event, or activity for a certain public


Synonymsaim, calculate


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something


Broader (hypernym)designate, destine, intend, specify

11. direct (motion) direct the course; determine the direction of travelling


Synonymschannelise, channelize, guide, head, maneuver, manoeuver, manoeuvre, point, steer


Pattern of useSomebody ----s.
Somebody ----s something.
Somebody ----s something PP


Broader (hypernym)command, control


Narrower (hyponym)canalise, canalize, channel, conn, corner, crab, dock, helm, navigate, navigate, park, pilot, pull over, sheer, stand out, starboard, tree

12. direct (communication) put an address on (an envelope)


Synonymsaddress


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something PP


Broader (hypernym)label


Narrower (hyponym)instrument, misaddress, misdirect, re-address

13. direct (cognition) plan and direct (a complex undertaking)


SamplesHe masterminded the robbery.


Synonymsengineer, mastermind, orchestrate, organise, organize


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something


Broader (hypernym)plan


Narrower (hyponym)choreograph









Based on WordNet 3.0 copyright © Princeton University.
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