directional
/dəˈrekʃənl/ (bre, ipa) · /dəˈrekʃənl/ (ame, ipa) · /də-ˈrek-sh(ə-)nəl/ (ame, mw)
directional — adjective
- directionalpositive
- more directionalcomparative
- most directionalsuperlative
1. showing or relating to the way something moves, faces, or points in space — for
showing or relating to the way something moves, faces, or points in space — for example, an arrow on a road sign, the lines on a running track, or where a camera lens is aimed.
Mira followed the directional arrows painted on the museum floor to reach the exit.
attributive: directional + noun (arrows, signs)
The new park has clear directional signs that point visitors toward each garden.
collocation: directional signs
Jude added directional lighting to highlight the painting on the back wall.
There was a strong directional wind blowing the sand into long ridges across the beach.
Dewi studied the directional changes in the river's flow after the heavy spring rain.
- positional
focuses on fixed location rather than the way of movement
- orientational
more technical; about overall orientation, not a specific direction
- omnidirectional
covering all directions equally instead of one
文法句型
directional + noun
用法筆記
Almost always used attributively before a noun (directional arrow / sign / wind). Distinguish from sense 2 (equipment that focuses signals): here the focus is on the direction itself, not on whether a device targets one direction.
常見錯誤
2. describing radio, sound, or signal equipment that works most strongly when point
describing radio, sound, or signal equipment that works most strongly when pointed toward one particular direction rather than spreading energy evenly around it.
Élise mounted a directional antenna on the roof to catch the weak signal from the next valley.
collocation: directional antenna
The wildlife team used a directional microphone to record the owls without entering the forest.
collocation: directional microphone
Pilots rely on a directional radio beacon to stay on the correct flight path at night.
Nikhil installed a directional speaker that sends sound only to the people sitting in front of the booth.
The radar dish acts as a directional sensor, scanning one narrow slice of sky at a time.
- focused
broader; any concentrated beam, not only equipment
- narrow-beam
technical term used in radio and audio engineering
- omnidirectional
picks up or sends signals equally in every direction
文法句型
directional + equipment noun
用法筆記
Subject is almost always a piece of equipment (antenna, microphone, speaker, beacon). Distinguish from sense 1 (general spatial direction): this sense is about the device's behaviour, not about the direction itself.
常見錯誤
3. describing clothes, hairstyles, or design that look ahead of current taste and c
describing clothes, hairstyles, or design that look ahead of current taste and clearly point toward the next trend — used as praise in the fashion world.
Layla's silver jacket and cropped hair looked very directional on the magazine cover.
predicative: look + directional
The young designer Kemi wanted her first collection to feel sharp and directional rather than safe.
informal fashion register
Critics praised the show in Paris for its directional cuts and bold colour mixing.
Amelia chose a directional haircut that nobody on her street had tried yet.
- trend-setting
more neutral; widely used outside fashion press
- avant-garde
stronger; suggests breaking with current taste
- cutting-edge
broader; applies to technology and ideas as well
- conservative
stays with established taste rather than pointing forward
- dated
tied to a past style
文法句型
look directional
directional + fashion noun
用法筆記
Used in fashion magazines and design reviews as positive judgement — labels a look as trend-leading. Distinguish from sense 1 (about spatial direction): here 'direction' is metaphorical, about where fashion is heading next.