də̇ˈrekt(ə)rə̇t also dīˈ-, rapid ˈdre-, usu -ə̇d.+V noun
( -s )
Etymology: French directorat, from Late Latin director + French -at -ate
1. : the office or occupancy of the office of director (as of an agency)
served during the directorate of his predecessor
2. : directory II 2a
a perpetuating directorate which subordinates the making of laws and the processes of the courts to the orders of the executive — F.D.Roosevelt
3.
a. : a board of directors of a corporation
two subsidiary funds, each with its own directorate and administrative staff — Craig Thompson
b. : membership on a board of directors
was required to resign his directorates before accepting the appointment
4. : an executive staff in charge of a program, bureau, department, or major subdivision
astronautics directorate
four main directorates deal with the various aspects of local government — Brian Chapman
a 4-man aircraft directorate created to speed up production