5 meanings, 14 uses
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1 —7 uses as in:
directly above; or buy direct from
Definition
straight (exactly where stated); or without involvement of anything in between
The exact meaning of this sense of direct is subject to its context. For example:
- "The road runs directly to Las Vegas." — straight (without varying from a straight line)
- "It was a direct hit." — exact
- "The plant is in direct sunlight." — unobstructed (without anything in between)
- "She wants a direct meeting with him." — personal (without other people in between)
- "She paid direct attention to what he was reading." — close
- "a direct gaze" — straight, steady, or focused—not a brief glance taken while generally looking at other things; not a sideways look
- One of our beds was directly under my mother and father's room.4 — The Corner (26% in)
directly = straight (in a straight line)
Other Uses (with this meaning)
- I think it's because he was the most recognizable, the one that looked the most like himself-even though he'd been shot in the face, directly, head-on.1 — Last To See Them Alive (86% in)
- I don't think that ever before in my life have so many people been so directly responsible for my being so very, very glad.2 — Persons Unknown (89% in)
- "And that's Perry," he said, winking at Perry, who was seated directly behind the driver.3 — Answer (15% in)
- The safe was supposed to be in the wall directly behind the desk, but we couldn't find it.3 — Answer (85% in)
- "Psychiatry," he added, pleading with the judge quite directly, "has matured rapidly in the past twenty years."4 — The Corner (19% in)
- He took a seat directly behind the defendants, and fixed them with a gaze of unique persistence, as though he planned to paint their portraits from memory.4 — The Corner (31% in)
directly = straight (exactly where stated; used for emphasis)
directly = closely
directly = exactly where stated (used for emphasis)
directly = close
directly = personally (person-to-person)
directly = close
There are no more uses of "direct" flagged with this meaning in In Cold Blood.
Typical Usage
(best examples)
2 —2 uses as in:
was direct in my instructions
Definition
straightforward (uncomplicated or simple — perhaps also indicating openness and honesty)
- The Reverend Post survived somewhat longer, for he made no direct attempt to compliment the prisoner, but described sympathetically an encounter with him at Lansing.4 — The Corner (48% in)
direct = clear
- The Meiers, who had been married more than twenty years, were very much alike: tall people with weight and strength to spare, with wide hands, square and calm and kindly faces-the last being most true of Mrs. Meier, a direct and practical woman who nevertheless seems illuminated by a mystical serenity.4 — The Corner (0% in)
direct = straightforward (uncomplicated)
There are no more uses of "direct" flagged with this meaning in In Cold Blood.
Typical Usage
(best examples)
3 —1 use as in:
directed her question to
Definition
to indicate direction; or to cause movement or focus in a direction or towards an object
The exact meaning of this sense of direct is subject to its context. For example:
- "intentionally directed fire at unarmed civilians" — aimed a gun
- "directed the question to her" — aimed a question
- "directed her north" — pointed in a particular direction
- "directed attention to the 3rd paragraph" — focused attention on a particular object
- "The sound of her voice directed him to the kitchen." — guided or gave directions to someone to help them move to a particular place
- "She directed him to the airport." — gave directions to send someone to a particular place
- "She directed the boat north." — steered it
- "directed the letter to" — send a letter to a particular person by putting a name and address on it
- For the most part, his rages in the, past have been directed at authority figures-father, brother, Army sergeant, state parole officer-and have led to violent assaultive behavior on several occasions.4 — The Corner (50% in)
directed = focused
There are no more uses of "direct" flagged with this meaning in In Cold Blood.
Typical Usage
(best examples)
4 —2 uses as in:
directed the jury to...
Definition
give instructions or commands
- Judge Tate did not entirely deny the motion; rather, he did exactly all the law demanded by appointing a commission of three Garden City doctors and directing them to pronounce a verdict upon the mental capacities of the prisoners.4 — The Corner (19% in)
directing = instructing
- Neither Perry nor Dick was aware of the police vehicle trailing them as they pulled away from the post office, and with Dick driving and Perry directing, they traveled five blocks north, turned left, then right, drove a quarter mile more, and stopped in front of a dying palm tree and a weather-wrecked sign from which all calligraphy had faded except the word "OOM."3 — Answer (63% in)
directing = giving directions
There are no more uses of "direct" flagged with this meaning in In Cold Blood.
Typical Usage
(best examples)
5 —2 uses as in:
directed the movie
Definition
supervise, control, or to be in charge of
- Kenyon was in my sophomore English class, and I'd directed Nancy in the 'Tom Sawyer' play.1 — Last To See Them Alive (83% in)
directed = supervised (been in charge of a performance)
- Investigating officials admit they can discover no motive for the crime, termed by Logan Sanford, Director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, as the most vicious in the history of Kansas.3 — Answer (1% in)
director = supervisor (person in charge)
(editor's note: The suffix "-or" often converts a verb to a noun that means "a person who." This is the pattern you see in words like actor, editor, and visitor.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-or" often converts a verb to a noun that means "a person who." This is the pattern you see in words like actor, editor, and visitor.)
There are no more uses of "direct" flagged with this meaning in In Cold Blood.
Typical Usage
(best examples)