Word
directory
Phoneticsdi·rec·to·ry, stress on the second syllable
US/daɪˈɹɛktɝi/
UK/daɪɹˈɛktəɹˌi/
Definitions
01a list of contacts
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a book or list that contains names, addresses, and phone numbers of people or businesses.
n. a systematic list of names, addresses, or other data, typically arranged alphabetically or by category.
“I looked up the local plumber's number in the business directory.”
“The university publishes an internal directory every autumn to help staff and students locate departmental offices and contact details.”
02a computer folder
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Computing Technical
n. a place on a computer where you store and organise files.
n. a virtual container in a computer's file system used to organise files and other subdirectories.
日本語:ディレクトリ※
Español:directorio
“You should save all your holiday photos in a separate directory on your hard drive.”
“The script failed to execute because it could not find the necessary configuration files in the root directory.”
Usage
Often used interchangeably with 'folder' in graphical user interfaces.
Synonyms
03a group of leaders
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Politics Formal · Technical
n. a small group of people who lead a government or an organisation together.
n. a body of directors or a collegial executive that exercises governing power.
“The company is managed by a directory of five senior partners.”
“Historians often study the French Directory, the five-man committee that governed France during the later stages of the Revolution.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “directory” in context.
Verb
01. browse the directory
“I spent a few minutes browsing the directory to see which companies were based in the building.”
verb + noun
02. compile a directory
“The local council is compiling a directory of all small businesses in the area.”
verb + noun
03. consult the directory
“You should consult the directory to find the contact details for the legal department.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. comprehensive directory
“The website provides a comprehensive directory of accredited language schools worldwide.”
adj + noun
05. root directory
“Make sure you save the configuration file in the root directory of the server.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. directory of members
“The professional association publishes an annual directory of members for networking purposes.”
noun + of + noun
07. telephone directory
“Before the internet, every household had a thick telephone directory by the landline.”
noun + noun
Preposition
08. in the directory
“If your name is not listed in the directory, you will not be granted access to the portal.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“Sues, the paleobiologist, compares the process to attempting to assemble the Manhattan phone directory with just two phone numbers.” “After returning to Michigan, he worked as a grocer and operated a business recorded in commercial directories as the "California Tea Store."
A surviving trade card associated with Wells advertised imported Asian teas.” “It’s that they reflected a different Internet entirely, one where directories mattered, crawling was still an art, ranking was fragile, and the idea of “search” had not yet hardened into a single dominant interface.” Related words
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/directory
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0