direction

Everyday

1. A direction is the way something goes, faces or points, like north, left, up or forwards. tree →
2. Directions are instructions that tell you how to get somewhere, or how to do something. tree →
3. Direction is also leading or guiding people, like a film director does. tree →

In the lessons

In school maths: ways of moving — same or opposite direction changes how distances add or subtract; compass directions; turning clockwise and anticlockwise; following directions on a grid. In geography: north, south, east, west on maps. In everyday life: asking for directions, reading the directions on a packet. Phrases: «in the direction of», «opposite direction», «ask for directions», «sense of direction», «follow the directions».

Examples

• Two cars go in opposite directions. tree →
• They walk in the same direction. tree →
• Which direction is north? tree →
• Follow the directions on the map. tree →
• Can you give me directions to the station? tree →
• Read the directions before you start the test. tree →
• The wind changed direction. tree →
• She has a good sense of direction and never gets lost. tree →

Note

Countable: «a direction». «In this direction», not «to this direction». Maths: opposite directions — the distance between them grows by the sum (distances add); same direction — it grows by the difference (they subtract). Trap: «opposite directions» towards each other also add speeds. Safety: if you get lost, ask a police officer or a shop worker for directions.

In Jewish tradition

In Sefer Yetzirah, the directions are the six sides of space, and the twelve directions are the twelve edges of a cube. In Proverbs it means wise guidance, and in Chronicles it means the king's order.

Interpretation. The directions are sealed by letters of God's Name, and the twelve are tied to the twelve simple letters, the twelve months and the twelve tribes in later readings. Proverbs is read as saying a people needs wise leaders and many counsellors.

Examples

• He selected three letters from the simple ones, and sealed them as forming his great Name, I H V and he sealed the universe in six directions. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1887) tree →
• Their development in three directions is pointed out, namely in the Macrocosm or Universe ; in the Year or in Time ; and in the Microcosm or Man. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →
• These symbolize also twelve directions in space: northeast, southeast, the east above, the east below, the northwest, southwest, the west above, the west below, the upper south, the lower south, the upper north, the lower north. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1887) tree →
• Where no wise direction is, a people falleth; but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. (Writings PRO.11.14, JPS 1917) tree →
• of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph; under the hand of Asaph, who prophesied according to the direction of the king. (Writings 1CH.25.2, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable: «a direction». «In this direction», not «to this direction». Maths: opposite directions — the distance between them grows by the sum (distances add); same direction — it grows by the difference (they subtract). Trap: «opposite directions» towards each other also add speeds. Safety: if you get lost, ask a police officer or a shop worker for directions.