direction

Noun

Synonyms: way guidance counsel counseling counselling management instruction steering commission charge focus focusing

WordNet 3.0

Noun (9)

a line leading to a place or point“he looked the other direction”“didn't know the way home”Synonyms: way
the spatial relation between something and the course along which it points or moves“he checked the direction and velocity of the wind”
a general course along which something has a tendency to develop“I couldn't follow the direction of his thoughts”“his ideals determined the direction of his career”“they proposed a new direction for the firm”
something that provides direction or advice as to a decision or course of actionSynonyms: guidance counsel counseling counselling
the act of managing something“he was given overall management of the program”“is the direction of the economy a function of government?”Synonyms: management
a message describing how something is to be done“he gave directions faster than she could follow them”Synonyms: instruction
the act of setting and holding a course“a new council was installed under the direction of the king”Synonyms: steering guidance
a formal statement of a command or injunction to do something“the judge's charge to the jury”Synonyms: commission charge
the concentration of attention or energy on something“the focus of activity shifted to molecular biology”“he had no direction in his life”Synonyms: focus focusing focussing focal point centering

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Direction \Di*rec"tion\, n. [L. directio: cf. F. direction.]

1.The act of directing, of aiming, regulating, guiding, or ordering; guidance; management; superintendence; administration; as, the direction o? public affairs or of a bank. [1913 Webster]

I do commit his youth To your direction.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

All nature is but art, unknown to thee; ll chance, direction, which thou canst not see.— Pope.[1913 Webster]

2.That which is imposed by directing; a guiding or authoritative instruction; prescription; order; command; as, he grave directions to the servants. [1913 Webster]

The princes digged the well . . . by the direction of the law giver.— Numb. xxi. 18.[1913 Webster]

3.The name and residence of a person to whom any thing is sent, written upon the thing sent; superscription; address; as, the direction of a letter. [1913 Webster]

4.The line or course upon which anything is moving or aimed to move, or in which anything is lying or pointing; aim; line or point of tendency; direct line or course; as, the ship sailed in a southeasterly direction. [1913 Webster]

5.The body of managers of a corporation or enterprise; board of directors. [1913 Webster]

6.(Gun.) The pointing of a piece with reference to an imaginary vertical axis; -- distinguished from elevation. The direction is given when the plane of sight passes through the object. --Wilhelm.

Syn: Administration; guidance; management; superintendence; oversight; government; order; command; guide; clew.

Usage: Direction, Control, Command, Order. These words, as here compared, have reference to the exercise of power over the actions of others. Control is negative, denoting power to restrain; command is positive, implying a right to enforce obedience; directions are commands containing instructions how to act. Order conveys more prominently the idea of authority than the word direction. A shipmaster has the command of his vessel; he gives orders or directions to the seamen as to the mode of sailing it; and exercises a due control over the passengers. [1913 Webster]