directive

Etymology

From Middle French directif. The noun senses are from French directive (feminine form of the adjective).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /daɪˈɹɛk.tɪv/, /dɪˈɹɛk.tɪv/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• (US) IPA^(key): /dəˈɹɛk.tɪv/
• Rhymes: -ɛktɪv

Adjective

directive (not comparable)

1. That which directs; serving to direct, indicate, or guide.
   • 2002, Colin Gray, Enterprise and Culture, page 54:

     A directive management style is stronger among owners with 'lifestyle' as a business objective than among those with business/economic objectives.

2. (grammar) Relating to the directive case.

Noun

directive (plural directives)

1. An instruction or guideline that indicates how to perform an action or reach a goal.
2. (programming) A construct in source code that indicates how it should be processed but is not necessarily part of the program to be run.
3. An authoritative decision from an official body, which may or may not have binding force.
4. (European Union law) A form of legislative act addressed to the member states. The directive binds the member state to reach certain objectives in their national legislation.
5. (grammar) The directive case.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /di.ʁɛk.tiv/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -iv
• Homophone: directives

Adjective

directive

1. feminine singular of directif

Noun

directive f (plural directives)

1. directive, general instructions, guideline

Further reading

• “directive”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.