də̇ˈrektə(r) also (ˈ)dī|r-, rapid ˈdre- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Late Latin, from Latin directus (past participle of dirigere to direct) + -or — more at dress
1. : one that directs: as
a. : the head or chief of an organized occupational group (as a bureau, foundation, institute, school)
the director of the budget
orientation of new school directors is the responsibility of the county superintendent
thousands of directors of religious education now at work — J.O.Nelson
a department of public relations headed by a director — R.F.Harlow & M.M.Black
b. : one of a group of persons entrusted by the shareholders of a corporation with the final overall control and direction of the corporate enterprise
final authority in a corporation of this sort lies with a board of directors — P.M.Sweezy
c. : one that supervises the production of a show (as for stage, screen, or radio transmission) with responsibility for action, lighting, music, rehearsals and generally for giving substance to the conception of the author — compare producer 4a
d. : conductor 6
e. : a college teacher that directs students individually in the choice of a program and in special projects (as research for a thesis or practice teaching) — compare adviser
f. : the head judge in a fencing match
2.
[translation of French directeur, from Middle French directeur director, from Late Latin director ]
: a member of the French Directory of 1795-99
3. : an instrument grooved to guide and limit the motion of a surgical knife
4. : a computing machine for controlling gunfire that automatically and continuously predicts the future position of the target and computes the ballistically correct firing data
5. Britain : a device to hold in position an unattended fire hose emitting a jet of water