direction

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the act of setting and holding a course

   a new council was installed under the direction of the king

2. 2
   noun

   a general course along which something has a tendency to develop

   I could not follow the direction of their thoughts.

3. 3
   noun

   a message describing how something is to be done

   I gave directions faster than they could follow them.

4. 4
   noun

   a line leading to a place or point

   They looked the other direction.

5. 5
   noun

   the spatial relation between something and the course along which it points or moves

   We checked the direction and velocity of the wind.

6. 6
   noun

   A theoretical line (physically or mentally) followed from a point of origin or towards a destination. May be relative (e.g. up, left, outbound, dorsal), geographical (e.g. north), rotational (e.g. clockwise), or with respect to an object or location (e.g. toward Boston).

   Keep going in the same direction.

7. 7
   noun

   Guidance, instruction.

   The trombonist looked to the bandleader for direction.

8. 8
   noun

   The work of the director in cinema or theater; the skill of directing a film, play etc.

   The screenplay was good, but the direction was weak.

Etymology

From Middle English direccioun, from Old French direccion, from Latin dīrēctiō. Equivalent to direct + -ion.