direction
Other forms: directions
When you put something together, it's usually best to follow each direction — that is, each step in the instructions for how to do it — so that you put it together correctly. Or, you could just start putting it together, only to discover that you have extra pieces.
The noun direction has several meanings. It can be an order given, as in, "Here are your directions: pick up your toys and make the bed!" Direction can also be something that points out a route as when you ask for directions to the lake. The course leading to a certain point is also a direction so you need to go in a southerly direction for ten miles, and then turn left at the giant chicken sign.
Definitions of direction
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a line leading to a place or point“he looked the other direction”
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synonyms:
way
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types:
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aim, bearing, heading
the direction or path along which something moves or along which it lies
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course, trend
general line of orientation
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east-west direction
in a direction parallel with lines of latitude
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north-south direction
in a direction parallel with lines of longitude
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qibla
the direction of the Kaaba toward which Muslims turn for their daily prayers
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tendency, trend
a general direction in which something tends to move
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tack
the heading or position of a vessel relative to the trim of its sails
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the spatial relation between something and the course along which it points or moves“he checked the direction and velocity of the wind”
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types:
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frontage
the direction in which something (such as a building) faces
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orientation
position or alignment relative to points of the compass or other specific directions
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opposition
a direction opposite to another
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windward
the direction from which the wind is coming
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leeward
the direction in which the wind is blowing
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seaward
the direction toward the sea
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compass point, point
any of 32 horizontal directions indicated on the card of a compass
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compass north, magnetic north, north
the direction in which a compass needle points
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north
the direction corresponding to the northward cardinal compass point
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northeast
the direction corresponding to the northeastward compass point
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east
the direction corresponding to the eastward cardinal compass point
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southeast
the direction corresponding to the southeastward compass point
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south
the direction corresponding to the southward cardinal compass point
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southwest
the direction corresponding to the southwestward compass point
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west
the direction corresponding to the westward cardinal compass point
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northwest
the direction corresponding to the northwestward compass point
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attitude
position of aircraft or spacecraft relative to a frame of reference (the horizon or direction of motion)
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horizontal
something that is oriented horizontally
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vertical
something that is oriented vertically
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orthogonal opposition, orthogonality, perpendicularity
the relation of opposition between things at right angles
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antipodal, antipodal opposition, diametrical opposition
the relation of opposition along a diameter
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enantiomorphism, mirror-image relation
the relation of opposition between crystals or molecules that are reflections of one another
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to windward, weather side, weatherboard, windward side
the side toward the wind
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leeward side, to leeward
the side sheltered from the wind
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quarter
one of the four major division of the compass
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cardinal compass point
one of the four main compass points
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NbE, north by east
the compass point that is one point east (clockwise) of due north
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NNE, nor'-nor'-east, north northeast
the compass point that is midway between north and northeast
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NEbN, northeast by north
the compass point that is one point north of northeast
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NE, nor'-east, northeast, northeastward
the compass point midway between north and east; at 45 degrees
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NEbE, northeast by east
the compass point that is one point east of northeast
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ENE, east northeast
the compass point midway between northeast and east
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EbN, east by north
the compass point that is one point north of due east
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EbS, east by south
the compass point that is one point south of due east
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ESE, east southeast
the compass point midway between east and southeast
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SEbE, southeast by east
the compass point that is one point east of southeast
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SE, sou'-east, southeast, southeastward
the compass point midway between south and east; at 135 degrees
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SEbS, southeast by south
the compass point that is one point south of southeast
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SSE, sou'-sou'-east, south southeast
the compass point midway between south and southeast
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SbE, south by east
the compass point that is one point east of due south
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SbW, south by west
the compass point that is one point west of due south
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SSW, sou'-sou'-west, south southwest
the compass point midway between south and southwest
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SWbS, southwest by south
the compass point that is one point south of southwest
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SW, sou'-west, southwest, southwestward
the compass point midway between south and west; at 225 degrees
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SWbW, southwest by west
the compass point that is one point west of southwest
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WSW, west southwest
the compass point midway between west and southwest
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WbS, west by south
the compass point that is one point south of due west
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WbN, west by north
the compass point that is one point north of due west
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WNW, west northwest
the compass point midway between west and northwest
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NWbW, northwest by west
the compass point that is one point west of northwest
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NW, nor'-west, northwest, northwestward
the compass point midway between north and west; at 315 degrees
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NWbN, northwest by north
the compass point that is one point north of northwest
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NNW, nor'-nor'-west, north northwest
the compass point that is midway between north and northwest
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NbW, north by west
the compass point that is one point west of due north
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type of:
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position, spatial relation
the spatial property of a place where or way in which something is situated
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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”
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types:
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tenor
a settled or prevailing or habitual course of a person's life
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type of:
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disposition, inclination, tendency
an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others
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tenor
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a formal statement of a command or injunction to do something
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synonyms:
charge, commission, mandate
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types:
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misdirection
an incorrect charge to a jury given by a judge
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misdirection
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something that provides direction or advice as to a decision or course of action
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synonyms:
counsel, counseling, counselling, guidance
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types:
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guideline, road map
a detailed plan or explanation to guide you in setting standards or determining a course of action
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career counseling
counseling on career opportunities
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cynosure
something that provides guidance (as Polaris guides mariners)
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genetic counseling
guidance for prospective parents on the likelihood of genetic disorders in their future children
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marriage counseling
counseling on marital problems and disagreements
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confidential information, hint, lead, steer, tip, wind
an indication of potential opportunity
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type of:
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content, message, subject matter, substance
what a communication that is about something is about
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a message describing how something is to be done“he gave directions faster than she could follow them”
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synonyms:
instruction
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types:
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rule
any one of a systematic body of regulations defining the way of life of members of a religious order
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prescript, rule
prescribed guide for conduct or action
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rubric
directions for the conduct of Christian church services (often printed in red in a prayer book)
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misdirection
incorrect directions or instructions
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address, destination, name and address
written directions for finding some location; written on letters or packages that are to be delivered to that location
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markup
detailed stylistic instructions for typesetting something that is to be printed; manual markup is usually written on the copy (e.g. underlining words that are to be set in italics)
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prescription
directions prescribed beforehand; the action of prescribing authoritative rules or directions
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formula, recipe
directions for making something
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rule
directions that define the way a game or sport is to be conducted
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stage direction
an instruction written as part of the script of a play
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style
editorial directions to be followed in spelling and punctuation and capitalization and typographical display
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system command
a computer user's instruction (not part of a program) that calls for action by the computer's executive program
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bylaw
a rule adopted by an organization in order to regulate its own affairs and the behavior of its members
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rubric
an authoritative rule of conduct or procedure
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order, parliamentary law, parliamentary procedure, rules of order
a body of rules followed by an assembly
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rule of evidence
(law) a rule of law whereby any alleged matter of fact that is submitted for investigation at a judicial trial is established or disproved
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Miranda rule
the rule that police (when interrogating you after an arrest) are obliged to warn you that anything you say may be used as evidence and to read you your constitutional rights (the right to a lawyer and the right to remain silent until advised by a lawyer)
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precept, principle
rule of personal conduct
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golden rule
any important rule
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GIGO
(computer science) a rule stating that the quality of the output is a function of the quality of the input; put garbage in and you get garbage out
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dictate
an authoritative rule
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ordinance, regulation
an authoritative rule
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canon
a rule or especially body of rules or principles generally established as valid and fundamental in a field or art or philosophy
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etiquette
rules governing socially acceptable behavior
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communications protocol, protocol
(computer science) rules determining the format and transmission of data
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return address
the address of the sender of a letter or parcel indicating where it should be returned if it cannot be delivered
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ground rule
(baseball) a special rule (as in baseball) dealing with situations that arise due to the nature of the playing grounds
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type of:
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content, message, subject matter, substance
what a communication that is about something is about
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the act of setting and holding a course“a new council was installed under the direction of the king”
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types:
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driving
the act of controlling and steering the movement of a vehicle or animal
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aim
the action of directing something at an object
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navigation, pilotage, piloting
the guidance of ships or airplanes from place to place
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celestial guidance
a method of controlling the flight of a missile or spacecraft by reference to the positions of celestial bodies
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inertial guidance, inertial navigation
a method of controlling the flight of a missile by devices that respond to inertial forces
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command guidance
a method of controlling the flight of a missile by commands originating from the ground or from another missile
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terrestrial guidance
a method of controlling the flight of a missile by devices that respond to the strength and direction of the earth's gravitational field
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motoring
the act of driving an automobile
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instrument flying
navigation of an airplane solely by instruments
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astronavigation, celestial navigation
navigating according to the positions of the stars
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dead reckoning
navigation without the aid of celestial observations
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type of:
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control
the activity of managing or exerting control over something
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the concentration of attention or energy on something“he had no direction in his life”
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synonyms:
centering, focal point, focus, focusing, focussing
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types:
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particularism
a focus on something particular
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type of:
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absorption, concentration, engrossment, immersion
complete attention; intense mental effort
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particularism
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the act of managing something“is the direction of the economy a function of government?”
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synonyms:
management
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types:
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conducting
the direction of an orchestra or choir
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database management
creation and maintenance of a database
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finance
the management of money and credit and banking and investments
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homemaking
the management of a household
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misconduct
bad or dishonest management by persons supposed to act on another's behalf
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misdirection, mismanagement
management that is careless or inefficient
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handling, treatment
the management of someone or something
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oversight, superintendence, supervising, supervision
management by overseeing the performance or operation of a person or group
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administration, disposal
a method of tending to or managing the affairs of a some group of people (especially the group's business affairs)
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authorisation, authorization, empowerment
the act of conferring legality or sanction or formal warrant
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disenfranchisement
the act of withdrawing certification or terminating a franchise
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canalisation, canalization, channelisation, channelization
management through specified channels of communication
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guidance, steering
the act of guiding or showing the way
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banking
engaging in the business of keeping money for savings and checking accounts or for exchange or for issuing loans and credit etc.
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screwup
the complete mismanagement or mishandling of a situation
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bioremediation
the act of treating waste or pollutants by the use of microorganisms (as bacteria) that can break down the undesirable substances
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dealing
method or manner of conduct in relation to others
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invigilation
keeping watch over examination candidates to prevent cheating
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conducting
the way of administering a business
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line management
administration of the activities contributing directly to an organization's output
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organisation, organization
the act of organizing a business or an activity related to a business
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running
the act of administering or being in charge of something
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polity
shrewd or crafty management of public affairs
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sanction
the act of final authorization
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licence, license, permission, permit
the act of giving a formal (usually written) authorization
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certification, enfranchisement
the act of certifying or bestowing a franchise on
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commission, commissioning
the act of granting authority to undertake certain functions
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delegating, delegation, deputation, relegating, relegation
authorizing subordinates to make certain decisions
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loan approval
formal authorization to get a loan (usually from a bank)
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rubber stamp
routine authorization of an action without questions
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type of:
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social control
control exerted (actively or passively) by group action
Pronunciation
US
/dɪˈrɛkʃɪn/
UK
/daɪˈrɛkʃən/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘direction'.
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