directory

[dih-rek-tuh-ree, -tree, dahy-]

noun

plural

directories 

1. a book containing an alphabetical index of the names and addresses of persons in a city, district, organization, etc., or of a particular category of people.

2. a board or tablet on a wall of a building listing the room and floor numbers of the occupants.

3. a book of directions.

4. Computers.

   1. Also called folder. an organizing unit in a computer's file system for storing and locating files. In a hierarchical file system, directories can contain child directories subdirectories as well as files.

   2. a description of characteristics of a particular file, as the layout of fields within each record.

5. French History.,  the Directory, the body of five directors forming the executive power of France from 1795 to 1799.

adjective

1. serving to direct; directing; directive.

directory

¹

/ dɪˈrɛktərɪ, -trɪ, daɪ- /

noun

1. a book, arranged alphabetically or classified by trade listing names, addresses, telephone numbers, etc, of individuals or firms

2. a book or manual giving directions

3. a book containing the rules to be observed in the forms of worship used in churches

4. a less common word for directorate

5. computing an area of a disk, Winchester disk, or floppy disk that contains the names and locations of files currently held on that disk

adjective

1. directing

Directory

²

/ -trɪ, dɪˈrɛktərɪ, daɪ- /

noun

1. Also known as: the French Directory. history the body of five directors in power in France from 1795 until their overthrow by Napoleon in 1799

Word History and Origins

Origin of directory¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin dīrēctōrium, noun use of Late Latin dīrēctōrius directorial; directory in def. 5, translation of French Directoire, from Medieval Latin, as above

Example Sentences

As of Tuesday, Means was listed in the department’s personnel directory—which is public—as a senior adviser in the office of Assistant Secretary for Health Brian Christine.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services said it is increasing oversight of insurers’ networks and their provider directories.

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New York City’s telephone company in 1886 published the first Yellow Pages directory of business phone numbers—creating a nearly friction-free way for merchants and customers to find one another.

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According to the mall’s online directory, popular shops such as Victoria’s Secret, Vans and Kay Jewelers are still open.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

DNS acts as a kind of telephone directory for the internet, instructing machines on how to find each other.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• almanac 
• catalogue 
• list 
• yellow pages