Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.

Definition: Directional |
DirectionalAdjective1. Relating to or indicating directions in space; "a directional microphone". 2. Relating to direction toward a (nonspatial) goal; "he tried to explain the directional trends of modern science". 3. Showing the way by conducting or leading; imposing direction on; "felt his mother's directing arm around him"; "the directional role of science on industrial progress". Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
Date "directional" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1550. (references) |
Synonyms: DirectionalSynonyms: directing (adj), directive (adj), guiding (adj). (additional references) |
| Antonym: omnidirectional (adj). (additional references) |
| Domain | Title | ||
Books |
| ||
Periodicals |
| ||
High Tech |
| ||
Consumer Goods | |||
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
![]() |
| "Direction" by Simon Cataudo Commentary: "Directional keys macro. Taken 11 December 2003. ." |
Source: photographs selected by the editor, with permission from the photographers. |
| Subject | Topic | Quote |
Economic History | Ukraine | Oil and gas extraction has potential for expansion using up-to-date Western technologies (deep drilling, 3-D seismic, well-logging, reservoir characterization, directional drilling, etc.) to locate new traps or untapped zones, or to rejuvenate older fields. (references) |
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits. | ||
| "Directional" is generally used as an adjective (general or positive) -- approximately 90.42% of the time. "Directional" is used about 167 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Adjective (general or positive) | 90.42% | 151 | 25,596 |
| Noun (proper) | 9.58% | 16 | 87,710 |
| Total | 100.00% | 167 | N/A |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
Expressions using "directional": directional aerial ♦ directional antenna ♦ directional barrage ♦ directional beacon ♦ directional coupler ♦ directional drilling ♦ directional gyro indicator ♦ directional gyroscope ♦ directional island ♦ directional localizer ♦ directional microphone ♦ directional phase changer ♦ directional phase shifter ♦ directional radar prediction ♦ directional radio ♦ directional radiobeacon ♦ directional rate ♦ directional stability ♦ directional transmitter ♦ directional well ♦ indicated slant course directional error. Additional references. | |
| Hypenated Usage | |
Ending with "directional": multi-directional, one-directional, super-directional, uni-directional. | |
Containing "directional": non-directional beacon. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Language | Translations for "directional"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | |
Albanian | i drejtuar (addressed, guided, manned, operated, ruled, superscript, unbend). (various references) | |
Arabic | إتجاهي. (various references) | |
Bulgarian | ръководен (directorial, directory, general, governing, key, leading), който показва посока. (various references) | |
Chinese | 定向. (various references) | |
Czech | smìrový, řídící (directing, guiding). (various references) | |
Danish | retnings. (various references) | |
Dutch | directioneel. (various references) | |
Finnish | suunta-, suunnattu (one-way). (various references) | |
French | directionnel, directif (directive). (various references) | |
German | richtungs-, richtungs, gerichtet (directed), ausrichtbar. (various references) | |
Greek | κατευθυντικός. (various references) | |
Hebrew | כווני. (various references) | |
Hungarian | irány-. (various references) | |
Italian | direzionale (executive). (various references) | |
Japanese Kanji | 指向 (OO). (various references) | |
Japanese Katakana | しこう (aim, carrying out, draft of a poem, enforcing, execution, intention, liking, making an attempt, one's own thoughts or opinion, OO, personal conduct, preference, supremacy, supreme, supreme filial piety, taste, thought, tooth tartar, waiting upon). (various references) | |
Manx | leeideilagh (conductive, conductor, directive, leader, principle, ringleader). (various references) | |
Pig Latin | irectionalday.(various references) | |
Portuguese | direcional, direccional. (various references) | |
Russian | направляющий (directive, guide, leader), направленный. (various references) | |
Serbo-Croatian | usmeren (intent). (various references) | |
Spanish | directivo (directive, directorial, executive, managerial), direccional, orientable. (various references) | |
Swedish | riktningsgivande refug (channelising island, channelizing island, directional island, guide island), irreciprok fasändrare (directional phase changer, directional phase shifter, directional phase-shifter, non-reciprocal phase shifter, non-reciprocal phase-shifter), helkollektiv (directional collective, full collective), avdelad brunn (deviated bore, deviated well, directional well). (various references) | |
Thai | เกี่ยวกับทิศทาง. (various references) | |
Turkish | yönlü (oriented), yöneltmeli, yön sinyali alan, yön ile ilgili, yön (aspect, bearings, channel, complexion, course, direction, facet, sense, trend, way), sinyâl gönderen. (various references) | |
Ukrainian | спрямований (addressed). (various references) | |
Vietnamese | chỉ huy (directive), cai quản định hướng, điều khiển (shot). (various references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references. | ||
Derivations | |
Words beginning with "directional": directionalities, directionality. (additional references) | |
Words ending with "directional": bidirectional, multidirectional, nondirectional, omnidirectional, unidirectional. (additional references) | |
Words containing "directional": bidirectionally, unidirectionally. (additional references) | |
| |
"Directional" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: birectional, directionsl. (additional references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |
| # of Phoneme Matches | Pronunciation | Word(s) rhyming with "directional" (pronounced dere"kshunul, dēre"kshunul, dīre"kshunul , or dire"kshunul) |
| 8 | -er e" k sh u n u l | correctional. |
| 7 | -e" k sh u n u l | sectional. |
| 6 | -k sh u n u l | dysfunctional, factional, fictional, fluxional, fractional, functional, instructional, jurisdictional. |
| 5 | -sh u n u l | aberrational, additional, binational, coeducational, compositional, computational, concessional, conditional, confessional, conformational, confrontational, congregational, congressional, connotational, constitutional, conventional, conversational, denominational, depositional, devotional, dimensional, educational, emotional, exceptional, foundational, generational, gravitational, improvisational, supranational, informational, inspirational, institutional, intentional, intergenerational, international, investigational, Invitational, irrational, motivational, multinational, national, navigational, nonprofessional, nontraditional, nutritional, obsessional, occupational, operational, optional, organizational, processional, professional, promotional, proportional, rational, recreational, relational, representational, rotational, sensational, situational, traditional, transformational, transitional, transnational, unconditional, unconstitutional, unconventional, unemotional, unintentional, unprofessional, untraditional, vocational. |
| 4 | -u n u l | abdominal, aboriginal, Arsenal, attitudinal, biphenyl, cantonal, Cardinal, collisional, criminal, delusional, diagonal, divisional, doctrinal, duodenal, erosional, gastrointestinal, hexagonal, impersonal, subliminal, superregional, terminal, interpersonal, intestinal, juvenile, latitudinal, longitudinal, luminal, marginal, medicinal, nominal, noncriminal, occasional, octagonal, original, personal, phenomenal, polygonal, provisional, regional, retinal, seasonal, seminal, sentinel, virginal. |
| 3 | -n u l | infernal, adrenal, anal, annal, annul, atonal, autumnal, carnal, channel, Colonel, communal, cornel, Darnel, departmental, diurnal, empanel, eternal, external, faunal, fennel, final, flannel, fraternal, funnel, hormonal, Hymnal, impanel, spinal, internal, journal, kennel, kernel, maternal, monoclonal, monsoonal, morainal, nocturnal, panel, paternal, penal, polyvinyl, renal, semifinal, shrapnel, signal, tonal, tribunal, tunnel, vaginal, venal, vernal, Vinal, vinyl. |
| 7 | -e" k sh u n u l | correctional, sectional. |
| 6 | -k sh u n u l | dysfunctional, factional, fictional, fluxional, fractional, functional, instructional, jurisdictional. |
| 5 | -sh u n u l | aberrational, additional, binational, coeducational, compositional, computational, concessional, conditional, confessional, conformational, confrontational, congregational, congressional, connotational, constitutional, conventional, conversational, denominational, depositional, devotional, dimensional, educational, emotional, exceptional, foundational, generational, gravitational, improvisational, supranational, informational, inspirational, institutional, intentional, intergenerational, international, investigational, Invitational, irrational, motivational, multinational, national, navigational, nonprofessional, nontraditional, nutritional, obsessional, occupational, operational, optional, organizational, processional, professional, promotional, proportional, rational, recreational, relational, representational, rotational, sensational, situational, traditional, transformational, transitional, transnational, unconditional, unconstitutional, unconventional, unemotional, unintentional, unprofessional, untraditional, vocational. |
| 4 | -u n u l | abdominal, aboriginal, Arsenal, attitudinal, biphenyl, cantonal, Cardinal, collisional, criminal, delusional, diagonal, divisional, doctrinal, duodenal, erosional, gastrointestinal, hexagonal, impersonal, subliminal, superregional, terminal, interpersonal, intestinal, juvenile, latitudinal, longitudinal, luminal, marginal, medicinal, nominal, noncriminal, occasional, octagonal, original, personal, phenomenal, polygonal, provisional, regional, retinal, seasonal, seminal, sentinel, virginal. |
| 3 | -n u l | infernal, adrenal, anal, annal, annul, atonal, autumnal, carnal, channel, Colonel, communal, cornel, Darnel, departmental, diurnal, empanel, eternal, external, faunal, fennel, final, flannel, fraternal, funnel, hormonal, Hymnal, impanel, spinal, internal, journal, kennel, kernel, maternal, monoclonal, monsoonal, morainal, nocturnal, panel, paternal, penal, polyvinyl, renal, semifinal, shrapnel, signal, tonal, tribunal, tunnel, vaginal, venal, vernal, Vinal, vinyl. |
| 7 | -e" k sh u n u l | correctional, sectional. |
| 6 | -k sh u n u l | dysfunctional, factional, fictional, fluxional, fractional, functional, instructional, jurisdictional. |
| 5 | -sh u n u l | aberrational, additional, binational, coeducational, compositional, computational, concessional, conditional, confessional, conformational, confrontational, congregational, congressional, connotational, constitutional, conventional, conversational, denominational, depositional, devotional, dimensional, educational, emotional, exceptional, foundational, generational, gravitational, improvisational, supranational, informational, inspirational, institutional, intentional, intergenerational, international, investigational, Invitational, irrational, motivational, multinational, national, navigational, nonprofessional, nontraditional, nutritional, obsessional, occupational, operational, optional, organizational, processional, professional, promotional, proportional, rational, recreational, relational, representational, rotational, sensational, situational, traditional, transformational, transitional, transnational, unconditional, unconstitutional, unconventional, unemotional, unintentional, unprofessional, untraditional, vocational. |
| 4 | -u n u l | abdominal, aboriginal, Arsenal, attitudinal, biphenyl, cantonal, Cardinal, collisional, criminal, delusional, diagonal, divisional, doctrinal, duodenal, erosional, gastrointestinal, hexagonal, impersonal, subliminal, superregional, terminal, interpersonal, intestinal, juvenile, latitudinal, longitudinal, luminal, marginal, medicinal, nominal, noncriminal, occasional, octagonal, original, personal, phenomenal, polygonal, provisional, regional, retinal, seasonal, seminal, sentinel, virginal. |
| 3 | -n u l | infernal, adrenal, anal, annal, annul, atonal, autumnal, carnal, channel, Colonel, communal, cornel, Darnel, departmental, diurnal, empanel, eternal, external, faunal, fennel, final, flannel, fraternal, funnel, hormonal, Hymnal, impanel, spinal, internal, journal, kennel, kernel, maternal, monoclonal, monsoonal, morainal, nocturnal, panel, paternal, penal, polyvinyl, renal, semifinal, shrapnel, signal, tonal, tribunal, tunnel, vaginal, venal, vernal, Vinal, vinyl. |
| 7 | -e" k sh u n u l | correctional, sectional. |
| 6 | -k sh u n u l | dysfunctional, factional, fictional, fluxional, fractional, functional, instructional, jurisdictional. |
| 5 | -sh u n u l | aberrational, additional, binational, coeducational, compositional, computational, concessional, conditional, confessional, conformational, confrontational, congregational, congressional, connotational, constitutional, conventional, conversational, denominational, depositional, devotional, dimensional, educational, emotional, exceptional, foundational, generational, gravitational, improvisational, supranational, informational, inspirational, institutional, intentional, intergenerational, international, investigational, Invitational, irrational, motivational, multinational, national, navigational, nonprofessional, nontraditional, nutritional, obsessional, occupational, operational, optional, organizational, processional, professional, promotional, proportional, rational, recreational, relational, representational, rotational, sensational, situational, traditional, transformational, transitional, transnational, unconditional, unconstitutional, unconventional, unemotional, unintentional, unprofessional, untraditional, vocational. |
| 4 | -u n u l | abdominal, aboriginal, Arsenal, attitudinal, biphenyl, cantonal, Cardinal, collisional, criminal, delusional, diagonal, divisional, doctrinal, duodenal, erosional, gastrointestinal, hexagonal, impersonal, subliminal, superregional, terminal, interpersonal, intestinal, juvenile, latitudinal, longitudinal, luminal, marginal, medicinal, nominal, noncriminal, occasional, octagonal, original, personal, phenomenal, polygonal, provisional, regional, retinal, seasonal, seminal, sentinel, virginal. |
| 3 | -n u l | infernal, adrenal, anal, annal, annul, atonal, autumnal, carnal, channel, Colonel, communal, cornel, Darnel, departmental, diurnal, empanel, eternal, external, faunal, fennel, final, flannel, fraternal, funnel, hormonal, Hymnal, impanel, spinal, internal, journal, kennel, kernel, maternal, monoclonal, monsoonal, morainal, nocturnal, panel, paternal, penal, polyvinyl, renal, semifinal, shrapnel, signal, tonal, tribunal, tunnel, vaginal, venal, vernal, Vinal, vinyl. |
Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits. | ||
Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams | |
| Words within the letters "a-c-d-e-i-i-l-n-o-r-t" | |
-2 letters: clarioned, dictional, direction, doctrinal, doleritic, editorial, identical, indicator, interlaid, lidocaine, redaction, reliction. | |
-3 letters: acridine, acrolein, actinide, actinoid, alcidine, anoretic, anticold, arointed, articled, cartoned, catenoid, centroid, ceratoid, cilantro, ciliated, clarinet, colander, colinear, conelrad, conidial, contrail, creation, ctenidia, daintier, daltonic, delation, diatonic, dicentra, dicrotal, dilation, doctrine, elicitor, erotical, ideation, idiolect, idolater, indicate, indicter, indictor. | |
| Words containing the letters "a-c-d-e-i-i-l-n-o-r-t" | |
+2 letters: bidirectional, coresidential, reduplication, valedictorian. | |
+3 letters: dechlorinating, dechlorination, decolorization, directionality, fractionalized, nondirectional, reduplications, unidirectional, valedictorians. | |
+4 letters: bidirectionally, dechlorinations, decolorizations, desacralization, dictatorialness, inconsiderately, omnidirectional, reconsolidating. | |
+5 letters: decentralization, denuclearization, desacralizations, directionalities, multidirectional, resolidification, unidirectionally. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. | |
| 1. Definition 2. Synonyms 3. Crosswords 4. Usage: Commercial | 5. Images: Digital Art 6. Quotations: Non-fiction 7. Usage Frequency 8. Expressions | 9. Expressions: Internet 10. Translations: Modern 11. Derivations 12. Rhymes | 13. Anagrams 14. Bibliography |
Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.