direct and send share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. direct means “command with authority”. send means “cause to go somewhere”. send is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/dɚˈɛkt/
1.v.command with authority
“He directed the children to do their homework”
2.v.intend (something) to move towards a certain goal
“He aimed his fists towards his opponent's face”
3.v.guide the actors in (plays and films)
/ˈsɛnd/
1.v.cause to go somewhere
“The explosion sent the car flying in the air”
2.v.to cause or order to be taken, directed, or transmitted to another place
“He had sent the dispatches downtown to the proper people and had slept”
3.v.cause to be directed or transmitted to another place
“send me your latest results”
| direct | send | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /dɚˈɛkt/ | /ˈsɛnd/ |
| Said | dur-EKT | send |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Letters | 6 | 4 |
| Parts of speech | verb, adjective, adverb | verb |
| Senses | 24 | 8 |
| How common | Common | Core |
| Synonyms | none recorded | direct |
Full entry for direct · Full entry for send · More comparisons