1 : 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"
2 : the concentration of attention or energy on something; "the focus of activity shifted to molecular biology"; "he had no direction in his life"
3 : the act of managing something
4 : the act of setting and holding a course
5 : a formal statement of a command or injunction to do something
6 : something that provides direction or advice as to a decision or course of action
