DIRECT


Meaning of DIRECT in English

I. də-ˈrekt, dī- verb

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French directer, from Latin directus straight, from past participle of dirigere to direct — more at dress

Date: 14th century

transitive verb

1.

a. obsolete : to write (a letter) to a person

b. : to mark with the name and address of the intended recipient

c. : to impart orally

d. : to adapt in expression so as to have particular applicability

a lawyer who direct s his appeals to intelligence

2.

a. : to regulate the activities or course of

b. : to carry out the organizing, energizing, and supervising of

direct a project

c. : to dominate and determine the course of

d. : to train and lead performances of

direct a movie

3. : to cause to turn, move, or point undeviatingly or to follow a straight course

X rays are direct ed through the body

4. : to point, extend, or project in a specified line or course

direct the nozzle downward

5. : to request or enjoin with authority

the judge direct ed the jury to acquit the defendant

6. : to show or point out the way for

signs direct ing us to the entrance

intransitive verb

1. : to point out, prescribe, or determine a course or procedure

2. : to act as director

Synonyms: see command , conduct

II. adjective

Etymology: Middle English, from Latin directus

Date: 15th century

1. : having or being motion in the general planetary direction from west to east : not retrograde

2.

a. : stemming immediately from a source

direct result

b. : being or passing in a straight line of descent from parent to offspring : lineal

direct ancestor

c. : having no compromising or impairing element

a direct insult

3.

a. : proceeding from one point to another in time or space without deviation or interruption : straight

a direct line

b. : proceeding by the shortest way

the direct route

4. : natural , straightforward

a direct manner

5.

a. : marked by absence of an intervening agency, instrumentality, or influence

making direct observations of nature

b. : effected by the action of the people or the electorate and not by representatives

direct democracy

c. : consisting of or reproducing the exact words of a speaker or writer

a direct quotation

6. : characterized by close logical, causal, or consequential relationship

direct evidence

7. : capable of dyeing without the aid of a mordant

III. adverb

Date: 14th century

: in a direct way: as

a. : from point to point without deviation : by the shortest way

flew direct to Miami

b. : from the source without interruption or diversion

the writer must take his material direct from life — Douglas Stewart

c. : without an intervening agency or step

buy direct from the manufacturer

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.