Definition

Noun 1. The quality of being directive: The characteristic of providing guidance, instruction, or aiming influence in a specific manner. 2. The property of a microphone or antenna of being more sensitive in one direction than in another: A technical characteristic describing the ability of a device to focus its reception or transmission of signals (like sound or radio waves) more strongly in one particular direction, as opposed to receiving or transmitting equally in all directions.

Usage Examples

• The directivity of the manager's instructions left no room for misinterpretation; the team knew exactly what to do.
• Engineers selected a microphone with high directivity to record the speaker's voice clearly while minimizing background noise from the audience.
• The success of the satellite link depends on the precise directivity of its antenna.

Advanced Usage

• Directivity Pattern/Diagram: A graphical representation (often a polar plot) showing how the sensitivity or radiation intensity of a device varies with the direction from the device.
  • The technician analyzed the antenna's directivity pattern to optimize signal strength.
• Directivity Index: A single numerical value (often in decibels) that quantifies the directivity of a transducer like a microphone or loudspeaker, comparing its sensitivity on its primary axis to its average sensitivity in all directions.
  • A higher directivity index indicates a more focused, narrow pickup pattern.

Variants and Related Words

• Directive (Adjective): Serving to direct, guide, or manage.
  • The board issued a directive memo outlining the new policy.
• Directionality (Noun): Often used synonymously with "directivity," especially in non-technical contexts. It emphasizes the state of operating or being effective in a particular direction.
  • The directionality of the sound system was crucial for the outdoor concert.

Synonyms

• Focus (in a technical context)
• Directional characteristic
• Selectivity (regarding direction)

Related Terms (Technical Context)

• Omnidirectionality: The opposite property, where a device has equal sensitivity in all directions.
• Beamwidth: The angular width of the main lobe of a directivity pattern, describing how narrow or wide the focused direction is.
• Gain: Often related to directivity, it is a measure of how much an antenna increases the power of a signal in its preferred direction.

Noun

1. the quality of being directive
2. the property of a microphone or antenna of being more sensitive in one direction than in another
   • the antenna received signals with no directivity