Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - direction

~ n 1 the way something or someone moves, faces, or is aimed  (in the direction of (=towards))  (The suspects were last seen heading in the direction of Miami. | in sb's direction (=towards someone))  (Tristram glanced in her direction and their eyes met. | in the opposite direction)  (The girls giggled and pointed in the opposite direction. | change direction)  (On seeing me, Maurice changed direction and went along the wharf instead. | in a southerly/easterly etc direction)  (Continue in a southerly direction until you reach the road. | in all directions)  (As shots rang out, the crowd ran screaming in all directions.) 2 directions instructions about how to get from one place to another, or about what to do  (A very helpful woman gave me directions to the police station.) 3 »WAY STH DEVELOPS« the general way in which someone or something changes or develops  (take a direction)  (Drayson was surprised at the direction his career had taken. | The company is hoping to extend its operations in this direction.) 4 »WHERE FROM OR WHERE TO« where something comes from or where something leads  (The evidence all points in this direction. | Help came from a wholly unexpected direction.) 5 »CONTROL« control, management, or advice  (under sb's direction)  (The project progressed well, under the capable direction of Magnus Armstrong.) 6 »FILM« the instructions and advice given by a film director (2) 7 »PURPOSE« a general purpose or aim  (Her mother felt that Rachel's life lacked direction.) 8 sense of direction a) the ability to know which way you should be going in a place you do not know well  ("Are we going north?" "Don't ask me! I've got no sense of direction at all.") b) an idea about what your aims in life are  (Doing the course gave her more sense of direction.)