di|rec|tive /da I re kt I v, d I r-/ (directives ) N‑COUNT A directive is an official instruction that is given by someone in authority. □ Thanks to a new E.U. directive, insecticide labelling will be more specific.
di|rect|ly /da I re ktli, d I r-/
1 ADV If something is directly above, below, or in front of something, it is in exactly that position. □ The naked bulb was directly over his head.
2 ADV If you do one action directly after another, you do the second action as soon as the first one is finished. □ Directly after the meeting, a senior cabinet minister spoke to the BBC.
3 ADV [ADV after v] If something happens directly , it happens without any delay. [BRIT , OLD-FASHIONED ] □ He will be there directly.
4 → see also direct
di|re ct mai l N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Direct mail is a method of marketing which involves companies sending advertising material directly to people who they think may be interested in their products. [BUSINESS ] □ …efforts to solicit new customers by direct mail and television advertising.
di|re ct ma r|ket|ing N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Direct marketing is the same as direct mail . [BUSINESS ] □ The direct marketing industry has become adept at packaging special offers.
di|re ct o b|ject (direct objects ) N‑COUNT In grammar, the direct object of a transitive verb is the noun group which refers to someone or something directly affected by or involved in the action performed by the subject. For example, in 'I saw him yesterday', 'him' is the direct object. Compare indirect object .
di|rec|tor ◆◆◆ /da I re ktə r , d I r-/ (directors )
1 N‑COUNT The director of a play, film, or television programme is the person who decides how it will appear on stage or screen, and who tells the actors and technical staff what to do.
2 N‑COUNT In some organizations and public authorities, the person in charge is referred to as the director . □ [+ of ] …the director of the intensive care unit at Guy's Hospital.
3 N‑COUNT The directors of a company are its most senior managers, who meet regularly to make important decisions about how it will be run. [BUSINESS ] □ He served on the board of directors of a local bank.
4 N‑COUNT The director of an orchestra or choir is the person who is conducting it. [AM ] in BRIT, use conductor SYNONYMS director NOUN 2
head: Heads of government from more than 100 countries gather in Geneva tomorrow.
manager: …Linda Emery, marketing manager for Wall's sausages.
chief: …a commission appointed by the police chief.
boss: Occasionally I have to go and ask the boss for a rise.
di|rec|to|rate /da I re ktərət, d I r-/ (directorates )
1 N‑COUNT A directorate is a board of directors in a company or organization. [BUSINESS ] □ [+ of ] The Bank would be managed by a directorate of professional bankers.
2 N‑COUNT A directorate is a part of a government department which is responsible for one particular thing. □ …the Health and Safety Directorate of the E.U.
di|re c|tor ge n|er|al (directors general ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] The director general of a large organization such as the BBC is the person who is in charge of it.
di|rec|to|rial /da I rektɔː ri ə l, d I r-/ ADJ [ADJ n] Directorial means relating to the job of being a film or theatre director. □ …Sam Mendes' directorial debut.
di|rec|tor|ship /da I re ktə r ʃ I p, d I r-/ (directorships ) N‑COUNT A directorship is the job or position of a company director. [BUSINESS ] □ Barry resigned his directorship in December 1973.
di|rec|tory /da I re ktəri, d I r-/ (directories )
1 N‑COUNT [oft n N ] A directory is a book which gives lists of facts, for example people's names, addresses, and telephone numbers, or the names and addresses of business companies, usually arranged in alphabetical order. □ …a telephone directory.
2 N‑COUNT A directory is an area of a computer disk which contains one or more files or other directories. [COMPUTING ] □ This option lets you create new files or directories.
3 N‑COUNT On the internet, a directory is a list of the subjects that you can find information on. [COMPUTING ] □ Yahoo is the oldest internet directory service.
di|re c|tory en|qui ries N‑UNCOUNT Directory enquiries is a service which you can telephone to find out someone's telephone number. [BRIT ] □ He dialled directory enquiries. in AM, use information , directory assistance
di|re ct ru le N‑UNCOUNT Direct rule is a system in which a central government rules an area which has had its own parliament or law-making organization in the past.
di |rect speech N‑UNCOUNT In grammar, direct speech is speech which is reported by using the exact words that the speaker used. [mainly BRIT ] in AM, usually use direct discourse
di|re ct ta x (direct taxes ) N‑COUNT A direct tax is a tax which a person or organization pays directly to the government, for example income tax.
di|re ct taxa |tion N‑UNCOUNT Direct taxation is a system in which a government raises money by means of direct taxes.
dirge /dɜː r dʒ/ (dirges ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] A dirge is a slow, sad song or piece of music. Dirges are sometimes performed at funerals.
dirt /dɜː r t/
1 N‑UNCOUNT If there is dirt on something, there is dust, mud, or a stain on it. □ I started to scrub off the dirt.
2 N‑UNCOUNT You can refer to the earth on the ground as dirt , especially when it is dusty. □ They all sit on the dirt in the dappled shade of a tree.