directory
English meaning: Directory
Definition
A list of names, addresses etc, of specific classes of people or organizations, often in alphabetical order or in some classification.
Example
“I looked up the plumber's number in the local directory.”
Another example: “Save the report in the project directory on the shared drive.”
Usage — When, Where & How
A reference book or file listing names, addresses or contacts in order, or, in computing, a folder containing files. Common in IT ('root directory'), reference ('telephone directory') and business ('a business directory').
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Medieval Latin 'directorium', from Latin 'directus' (directed, straight); entered English in the 15th century, originally meaning a guidebook.
Related Words
- ldap
- filename
- enquiries
- folder
- monuments
- file
- unix
- server
- files
- authentication
Common Collocations
- telephone directory
- business directory
- root directory
- online directory
- directory listing
- directory of services
Word Forms
directory (n, sing.); directories (pl.)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B