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

Then, somehow, he lost his pack and walked miles in the opposite direction of where he thought he was heading.

From Los Angeles Times

She said she pretended to be a sort-of fake tour guide when he needed directions and offered to take him around “because he was cute.”

From Los Angeles Times

Crews will repave sections of two lanes in each direction, replace signage and upgrade guardrails and curb ramps.

From Los Angeles Times

I haven’t visited the new one in Studio City, but the art direction at the downtown location is so good.

From Los Angeles Times

Walker’s direction has a grab-bag aspect, as if the invitation from the Getty Villa came too late to smoothly integrate all the moving parts.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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