direct and target share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. direct means “command with authority”. target means “a reference point to shoot at”. target 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)
/ˈtɑɹɡət/
1.n.a reference point to shoot at
“his arrow hit the mark”
2.n.a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence
“he fell prey to muggers”
3.n.the location of the target that is to be hit
| direct | target | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /dɚˈɛkt/ | /ˈtɑɹɡət/ |
| Said | dur-EKT | TAHR-guht |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Letters | 6 | 6 |
| Parts of speech | verb, adjective, adverb | noun, verb |
| Senses | 24 | 6 |
| How common | Common | Core |
| Synonyms | none recorded | mark |
Full entry for direct · Full entry for target · More comparisons