to manage or guide by advice, helpful information, instruction, etc.

He directed the company through a difficult time.

to regulate the course of; control

History is directed by a small number of great men and women.

to administer; manage; supervise

She directs the affairs of the estate.

to give authoritative instructions to; command; order or ordain

I directed him to leave the room.

to serve as a director in the production or performance of (a musical work, play, motion picture, etc.).

to guide, tell, or show (a person) the way to a place

I directed him to the post office.

to point, aim, or send toward a place or object

to direct radio waves around the globe.

to channel or focus toward a given result, object, or end (often fol. by to or toward )

She directed all her energies toward the accomplishment of the work.

to address (words, a speech, a written report, etc.) to a person or persons

The secretary directed his remarks to two of the committee members.

to address (a letter, package, etc.) to an intended recipient.

to act as a guide.

to give commands or orders.

to serve as the director of a play, film, orchestra, etc.

proceeding in a straight line or by the shortest course; straight; undeviating; not oblique

a direct route.

proceeding in an unbroken line of descent; lineal rather than collateral

a direct descendant.

Mathematics .

(of a proportion) containing terms of which an increase (or decrease) in one results in an increase (or decrease) in another

a term is said to be in direct proportion to another term if one increases (or decreases) as the other increases (or decreases).

(of a function) the function itself, in contrast to its inverse. Compare inverse ( def. 2 ) .

without intervening persons, influences, factors, etc.; immediate; personal

direct contact with the voters; direct exposure to a disease.

straightforward; frank; candid

the direct remarks of a forthright individual.

absolute; exact

the direct opposite.

consisting exactly of the words originally used; verbatim

direct quotation.

Government . of or by action of voters, which takes effect without any intervening agency such as representatives.

inevitable; consequential

War will be a direct result of such political action.

allocated for or arising from a particular known agency, process, job, etc.

The new machine was listed by the accountant as a direct cost.

Electricity . of or pertaining to direct current.

Astronomy .

moving in an orbit in the same direction as the earth in its revolution around the sun.

appearing to move on the celestial sphere in the direction of the natural order of the signs of the zodiac, from west to east. Compare retrograde ( def. 4 ) .

Surveying . (of a telescope) in its normal position; not inverted or transited.

(of dye colors) working without the use of a mordant; substantive.

in a direct manner; directly; straight

Answer me direct.

adjective

devious , dishonest , indirect , wily , changing , deviating , intermittent , interrupted , varying

verb

misguide , mismanage , neglect , mislead , diverge , misdirect

adjective

absolute , bald , blunt , candid , categorical , downright , explicit , express , forthright , frank , matter-of-fact , open , outspoken , person-to-person , plain , plainspoken , point-blank , sincere , straight , straightforward , straight from the shoulder , talk turkey * , unambiguous , unconcealed , undisguised , unequivocal , unreserved , beeline * , continuous , even , horizontal , in bee line , in straight line , linear , nonstop , not crooked , right , shortest , straight ahead , straightaway , through , true , unbroken , unswerving , contiguous , firsthand , head-on , immediate , lineal , next , personal , primary , prompt , proximate , resultant , succeeding , honest , ingenuous , man-to-man , straight-out

verb

administer , advise , be in the driver’s seat , boss , call the shots * , carry on , conduct , control , control the affairs of , dispose , dominate , govern , guide , handle , have the say , head up , influence , keep , lead , operate , ordain , preside over , quarterback , regulate , rule , run , run the show , run things , shepherd , superintend , supervise , take the reins , address , bid , charge , command , deliver , dictate , enjoin , give directions , give orders , inform , instruct , lecture , order , read , tell , warn , aim , beam , cast , escort , fix , focus , head , incline , indicate , intend , lay , level , mean , move in , pilot , point , point the way , present , route , see , set , show , sight , sight on , slant , steer , target , train , turn , zero in , designate , inscribe , label , mail , mark , superscribe , apply , bend , buckle down , devote , endeavor , give , settle , strive , throw , try , administrate , manage , concentrate , dedicate , usher