Director vs. Directory — What's the Difference?

One that supervises, controls, or manages.

A book containing an alphabetical or classified listing of names, addresses, and other data, such as telephone numbers, of specific persons, groups, or firms.

A member of a group of persons chosen to control or govern the affairs of an institution or corporation.

(Computers) An organizational unit for files that reside on a hard disk or other storage device. Also called folder.

A person who supervises the creative aspects of a dramatic production or film and instructs the actors and crew.

A book of rules or directions.

The conductor of an orchestra or chorus.

A group or body of directors.

An electronic device that continually calculates and displays information used for firing weapons at moving targets, such as missiles or aircraft.

Serving to direct.

One who directs; the person in charge of managing a department or directorate (e.g., director of engineering), project, or production (as in a show or film, e.g., film director).

A list of names, addresses etc, of specific classes of people or organizations, often in alphabetical order or in some classification.

A member of a board of directors.

(computing) A structured listing of the names and characteristics of the files on a storage device.

A counselor, confessor, or spiritual guide.

(computing) A virtual container in a computer's file system, in which files and other directories may be stored. The files and subdirectories in a directory are usually related.

That which directs or orientates something.

Containing directions; instructing; directorial.

(military) A device that displays graphical information concerning the targets of a weapons system in real time.

Containing directions; enjoining; instructing; directorial.

(chemistry) The common axis of symmetry of the molecules of a liquid crystal.

A collection or body of directions, rules, or ordinances; esp., a book of directions for the conduct of worship; as, the Directory used by the nonconformists instead of the Prayer Book.

One who, or that which, directs; one who regulates, guides, or orders; a manager or superintendent.

A book containing the names and residences of the inhabitants of any place, or of classes of them; an address book; as, a business directory.

One of a body of persons appointed to manage the affairs of a company or corporation; as, the directors of a bank, insurance company, or railroad company.

A body of directors; board of management; especially, a committee which held executive power in France under the first republic.

A part of a machine or instrument which directs its motion or action.

Direction; guide.

A slender grooved instrument upon which a knife is made to slide when it is wished to limit the extent of motion of the latter, or prevent its injuring the parts beneath.

An alphabetical list of names and addresses

Someone who controls resources and expenditures

(computer science) a listing of the files stored in memory (usually on a hard disk)

Member of a board of directors

Someone who supervises the actors and directs the action in the production of a show

The person who leads a musical group