di·rec·to·ry

(dĭ-rĕk′tə-rē, dī-)

n. pl. di·rec·to·ries

1. A book containing an alphabetical or classified listing of names, addresses, and other data, such as telephone numbers, of specific persons, groups, or firms.

2. Computers An organizational unit for files that reside on a hard disk or other storage device. Also called folder.

3. A book of rules or directions.

4. A group or body of directors.

adj.

Serving to direct.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

di•rec•to•ry

(dɪˈrɛk tə ri, -tri, daɪ-)

n., pl. -ries,
adj. n.

1. a book containing an alphabetical index of the names and addresses of persons in an area, organization, etc., or of a category of people.

2. a board or tablet on a wall of a building listing the location of the occupants.

3. a book of directions.

a. a division in a hierarchical structure that organizes the storage of computer files on a disk.

b. a listing of such stored files.

5. the Directory, the body of five directors forming the executive power of France from 1795 to 1799.

adj.

6. serving to direct; directive.

[1400–50; late Middle English < Medieval Latin]

direct

(diˈrekt) adjective

1. straight; following the quickest and shortest way. Is this the most direct route?

2. (of manner etc) straightforward and honest. a direct answer.

3. occurring as an immediate result. His dismissal was a direct result of his rudeness to the manager.

4. exact; complete. Her opinions are the direct opposite of his.

5. in an unbroken line of descent from father to son etc. He is a direct descendant of Napoleon.

verb

1. to point, aim or turn in a particular direction. He directed my attention towards the notice.

2. to show the way to. She directed him to the station.

3. to order or instruct. We will do as you direct.

4. to control or organize. A policeman was directing the traffic; to direct a film.

diˈrection (-ʃən) noun

1. (the) place or point to which one moves, looks etc. What direction did he go in?; They were heading in my direction (= towards me); I'll find my way all right – I've a good sense of direction.

2. guidance. They are under your direction.

3. (in plural) instructions (eg on how to get somewhere, use something etc). We asked the policeman for directions; I have lost the directions for this washing-machine.

4. the act of aiming or turning (something or someone) towards a certain point.

diˈrectional adjective

diˈrective (-tiv) noun

a general instruction from a higher authority about what is to be done etc.

diˈrectly adverb

1. in a direct manner. I went directly to the office.

2. almost at once. He will be here directly.

diˈrectness noun

diˈrector noun

a person or thing that directs, eg one of a group of persons who manage the affairs of a business or a person who is in charge of the making of a film, play etc. He is on the board of directors of our firm; The producer and the director quarrelled about the film.

diˈrectory – plural diˈrectories – noun

a type of book giving names and addresses etc. a telephone directory.

Noun	1.	directory - an alphabetical list of names and addresses book of facts, reference book, reference work, reference - a book to which you can refer for authoritative facts; "he contributed articles to the basic reference work on that topic" phone book, phonebook, telephone book, telephone directory - a directory containing an alphabetical list of telephone subscribers and their telephone numbers blue book - a register of persons who are socially prominent
	2.	directory - (computer science) a listing of the files stored in memory (usually on a hard disk) computer science, computing - the branch of engineering science that studies (with the aid of computers) computable processes and structures list, listing - a database containing an ordered array of items (names or topics) subdirectory - (computer science) a directory that is listed in another directory