directional

[ dih-rek-shuh-nl, dahy- ]

adjective
  1. of, relating to, or indicating direction in space.

  2. Radio. adapted for determining the direction of signals received, or for transmitting signals in a given direction: a directional antenna.

  1. of, relating to, or providing guidance or leadership.

Origin of directional

1
First recorded in 1605–15; direction + -al1

Other words from directional

  • di·rec·tion·al·i·ty, noun
  • di·rec·tion·al·ly, adverb
  • un·di·rec·tion·al, adjective

Words Nearby directional

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use directional in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for directional

directional

/ (dɪˈrɛkʃənəl, daɪ-) /


adjective
  1. of or relating to a spatial direction

  2. electronics

    • having or relating to an increased sensitivity to radio waves, sound waves, nuclear particles, etc, coming from a particular direction

    • (of an aerial) transmitting or receiving radio waves more effectively in some directions than in others

  1. physics electronics

    • concentrated in, following, or producing motion in a particular direction

    • indicating direction

  2. indicating the direction something, such as a fashion trend, might take: directional fashion looks

Derived forms of directional

  • directionality, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012