direct vs place

direct is not a noun while place is a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
direct	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
place	Yes	No	Yes	No

As verbs, place is a hyponym of direct; that is, place is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than direct:

direct: point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards
place: intend (something) to move towards a certain goal

Other hyponyms of direct include aim, direct, point, target, draw a bead on, hold, turn, swing, charge, level, point, level, sight.

As verbs, direct and place are synonyms defined as:

Other synonyms of direct include aim, point, target.

direct (noun)	place (noun)
	a job in an organization
	the post or function properly or customarily occupied or served by another
	an abstract mental location
	the passage that is being read
	a blank area
	an item on a list or in a sequence
	a point located with respect to surface features of some region
	a general vicinity
	a public square with room for pedestrians
	a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
	any area set aside for a particular purpose
	the particular portion of space occupied by something
	where you live at a particular time
	proper or designated social situation
	a particular situation
	proper or appropriate position or location

direct (adjective)	place (adjective)
direct in spatial dimensions; proceeding without deviation or interruption; straight and short
(of a current) flowing in one direction only
straightforward in means or manner or behavior or language or action
similar in nature or effect or relation to another quantity
in a straight unbroken line of descent from parent to child
moving from west to east on the celestial sphere; or--for planets--around the sun in the same direction as the Earth
lacking compromising or mitigating elements
in precisely the same words used by a writer or speaker
having no intervening persons, agents, conditions
being an immediate result or consequence

direct (verb)	place (verb)
plan and direct (a complex undertaking)	recognize as being; establish the identity of someone or something
specifically design a product, event, or activity for a certain public	assign a rank or rating to
command with authority	take a place in a competition; often followed by an ordinal
give directions to; point somebody into a certain direction	estimate
put an address on (an envelope)	sing a note with the correct pitch
point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards	to arrange for
intend (something) to move towards a certain goal	assign to a station
guide the actors in (plays and films)	finish second or better in a horse or dog race
lead, as in the performance of a composition	intend (something) to move towards a certain goal
take somebody somewhere	put into a certain place or abstract location
cause to go somewhere	locate
direct the course; determine the direction of travelling	assign a location to
govern or manage	make an investment
	assign to (a job or a home)
	place somebody in a particular situation or location
	identify the location or place of

direct (adverb)	place (adverb)
without deviation