direct line
No intermediaries needed
A direct line is an unmediated connection between two points.
In genealogy, a direct line traces descent from parent to child without branching to cousins or in-laws: She's a direct descendant of John Adams—direct line all the way.
In business, a direct line is a phone number that reaches someone without going through a switchboard or assistant.
More broadly, any unobstructed path or immediate access: He has a direct line to the CEO.
Direct emergency phone connection
- contactCommunication or physical touch
- connectionA joining or relation
- callerOne who phones
- dispatchSend with speed
switchboard · operator · reception · dial · ring · call · voicemail · extension
Downward slope or lineage
- ancestryFamily line of descent
- bloodlineAncestry through generations
- genealogyStudy of family descent
- heredityGenetic trait transmission
succession · dynasty · pedigree · parentage · lineage · heir · descendant · firstborn
Quicker alternative path
- straight pathUndeviating linear route
- beelineMost direct course
- shortest routeMinimum-distance trajectory
- straight shotDirect unimpeded trajectory
clear path · express route · trajectory · vector · course · heading · straightaway · expressway
Distinct part of whole
- vectorQuantity with direction
- rayNarrow light emission
- axisRotation reference line
- diagonalSlanting line or path
perpendicular · parallel · tangent · chord · secant · hypotenuse · baseline · straightedge
Passage for transmission
- connectionA joining or relation
- contactCommunication or physical touch
- pipelineLong-distance fluid transport tube
- conduitTube conveying fluid or cables
liaison · inside track · personal connection · back channel · fast track · privileged access · open door · inroad
hotline
Direct emergency phone connection
- contactCommunication or physical touch
- connectionA joining or relation
- callerOne who phones
dispatch · switchboard · operator · reception · dial · ring · call · voicemail · extension · intercom
descent
Downward slope or lineage
heredity · succession · dynasty · pedigree · parentage · lineage · heir · descendant · firstborn · primogeniture
shortcut
Quicker alternative path
- straight pathUndeviating linear route
- beelineMost direct course
- shortest routeMinimum-distance trajectory
straight shot · clear path · express route · trajectory · vector · course · heading · straightaway · expressway · nonstop
segment
Distinct part of whole
diagonal · perpendicular · parallel · tangent · chord · secant · hypotenuse · baseline · straightedge · ruler
channel
Passage for transmission
- connectionA joining or relation
- contactCommunication or physical touch
- pipelineLong-distance fluid transport tube
conduit · liaison · inside track · personal connection · back channel · fast track · privileged access · open door · inroad · entrée
- connectionslink, links, connect, connection, tie
- kinshipmother, father, sister, brother, children
- telephonytelephone, telephone network, call, dial tone, phone lines
- ancestryancestors, kinship, ancestor, clan, ancestry
- lineageancestry, royal dynasties, bloodline, noble houses, dynasty
- phone callsphone number, robocall, cell number, cold call, mobile number
direct lineswitchboard
Telephone routing panel
phone tree · intermediary · operator · answering service · reception
direct linewinding path
Route with repeated curves
detour · zigzag · crooked line · scenic route · spiral
direct lineside branch
line, direct, direction, lined, directly, director, lining, indirect, directive