director

[ dih-rek-ter, dahy- ]

/ dɪˈrɛk tər, daɪ- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR director ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a person or thing that directs.

one of a group of persons chosen to control or govern the affairs of a company or corporation: a board of directors.

the person responsible for the interpretive aspects of a stage, film, or television production; the person who supervises the integration of all the elements, as acting, staging, and lighting, required to realize the writer's conception.Compare producer(def 3).

the musical conductor of an orchestra, chorus, etc.

the manager or chief executive of certain schools, institutes, government bureaus, etc.

Military. a mechanical or electronic device that continuously calculates firing data for use against an airplane or other moving target.

Nearby words

directional microphone, directions, directive, directly, directoire, director, director general, director of education, director of photography, director of public prosecutions, director's chair

Origin of director

From Late Latin, dating back to 1470–80; see origin at direct, -tor

SYNONYMS FOR director

1, 2, 5 supervisor, head, manager, leader, administrator, chief, boss.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR director ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

di·rec·tor·ship, nounpre·di·rec·tor, nounself-di·rec·tor, nounsub·di·rec·tor, noun

sub·di·rec·tor·ship, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for director

This is a Hollywood director at the height of his powers creating original, wildly ambitious epics.
Oscars 2015: The Daily Beast’s Picks, From Scarlett Johansson to ‘Boyhood’|Marlow Stern|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
This is not the first time the director has fallen for Russian propaganda.
Oliver Stone’s Latest Dictator Suckup|James Kirchick|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The director left then; he could see the impending catastrophe.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Director Yoo Dong-hun and screenwriter Lee Jung-u were arrested for firebombing theaters.
Propaganda, Protest, and Poisonous Vipers: The Cinema War in Korea|Rich Goldstein|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST

His rule over the country came to an end in 1979 when the director of the KCIA shot Park and his bodyguard to death at dinner.
Propaganda, Protest, and Poisonous Vipers: The Cinema War in Korea|Rich Goldstein|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Canteen cash at the end of each day should be handed over to the Director and entered in the petty cash book.
Campward Ho!|Unknown
A cousin of mine is a director of one of the largest lines of steamers; I'll make him put a state-room at your disposal.
Margaret Vincent|Sophia Lucy Clifford
For several years he held the office of director in the Merchants Bank, of Cleveland.
Cleveland Past and Present|Maurice Joblin
Two or three times I had to shut off the instrument, fearing the Director would hear me laugh.
Jennie Baxter, Journalist|Robert Barr
The Director's door was shut, and again his knockings produced nothing but an echo.
Smith and the Pharaohs, and Other Tales|Henry Rider Haggard

British Dictionary definitions for director

director

/ (dɪˈrɛktə, daɪ-) /

noun

a person or thing that directs, controls, or regulates

a member of the governing board of a business concern who may or may not have an executive function

a person who directs the affairs of an institution, trust, educational programme, etc

the person responsible for the artistic and technical aspects of making a film or television programmeCompare producer (def. 4)

music another word (esp US) for conductor (def. 2)

Derived Forms

directorial, adjectivedirectorially, adverbdirectorship, noundirectress, fem n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for director

director

[ dĭ-rĕk′tər, dī- ]

n.

A smoothly grooved instrument used with a knife to limit the incision of tissues.staff