1 not going straight to the point.
2 (of a route etc.) not straight.
3 not directly sought or aimed at (an indirect result).
4 (of lighting) from a concealed source and diffusely reflected.
Phrases and idioms:
indirect object Gram. a person or thing affected by a verbal action but not primarily acted on (e.g. him in give him the book). indirect question Gram. a question in reported speech (e.g. they asked who I was). indirect speech (or oration) = reported speech (see REPORT). indirect tax a tax levied on goods and services and not on income or profits.
Derivatives:
indirectly adv. indirectness n.
Etymology: ME f. OF indirect or med.L indirectus (as IN-(1), DIRECT)
Useful english dictionary. 2012.