direction

[dih-rek-shuhn, dahy-]

noun

1. the act or an instance of directing.

2. the line along which anything lies, faces, moves, etc., with reference to the point or region toward which it is directed: directed.

   The storm moved in a northerly direction.

3. the point or region itself.

   The direction is north.

4. a position on a line extending from a specific point toward a point of the compass or toward the nadir or the zenith.

5. a line of thought or action or a tendency or inclination.

   the direction of contemporary thought.

6. Usually directions. instruction or guidance for making, using, etc..

   directions for baking a cake.

7. order; command.

8. management; control; guidance; supervision.

   a company under good direction.

9. a directorate.

10. the name and address of the intended recipient as written on a letter, package, etc.

11. decisions in a stage or film production as to stage business, speaking of lines, lighting, and general presentation.

12. the technique, act, or business of making such decisions, managing and training a cast of actors, etc.

13. the technique, act, or business of directing an orchestra, concert, or other musical presentation or group.

14. Music.,  a symbol or phrase that indicates in a score the proper tempo, style of performance, mood, etc.

15. a purpose or orientation toward a goal that serves to guide or motivate; focus.

    He doesn't seem to have any direction in life.

direction

/ dɪˈrɛkʃən, daɪ- /

noun

1. the act of directing or the state of being directed

2. management, control, or guidance

3. the work of a stage or film director

4. the course or line along which a person or thing moves, points, or lies

5. the course along which a ship, aircraft, etc, is travelling, expressed as the angle between true or magnetic north and an imaginary line through the main fore-and-aft axis of the vessel

6. the place towards which a person or thing is directed

7. a line of action; course

8. the name and address on a letter, parcel, etc

9. music the process of conducting an orchestra, choir, etc

10. music an instruction in the form of a word or symbol heading or occurring in the body of a passage, movement, or piece to indicate tempo, dynamics, mood, etc

11. (modifier) maths

    1. (of an angle) being any one of the three angles that a line in space makes with the three positive directions of the coordinate axes. Usually given as α, β, and γ with respect to the x-, y-, and z- axes

    2. (of a cosine) being the cosine of any of the direction angles

Other Word Forms

• directionless adjective
• predirection noun
• self-direction noun
• superdirection noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of direction¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English direccioun, from Middle French, from Latin dīrēctiōn-, stem of dīrēctiō “arranging in line, straightening”; equivalent to direct + -ion

Idioms and Phrases

see step in the right direction.

Synonym Study

See tendency.

Example Sentences

People around him were scrambling in every direction while on their phones letting others know what had just happened.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

This electro-optic effect allows scientists to adjust the frequency, intensity, phase, and direction of light in ways that other materials cannot.

Read more on Science Daily

Alas, from there it turned in the Trojans’ direction instead.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Jo White, who leads a 50-strong group of Labour MPs in "Red Wall" seats in the Midlands and North of England, would like to see ministers go further in a Danish direction.

Read more on BBC

"We were never scared to speak our mind and I think that feisty attitude steered us in the right direction," she laughs.

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Related Words

• angle 
• area 
• aspect 
• line 
• objective 
• orientation 
• outlook 
• path 
• trend 
• way