direct vs stand out

direct is an adjective but stand out is not an adjective.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
direct	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
stand out	No	No	Yes	No

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

Other hyponyms of direct include dock, sheer, pull over, helm, crab, navigate, starboard, conn, navigate, pilot, channel, corner, tree, park.

direct (adjective)	stand out (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)	stand out (verb)
plan and direct (a complex undertaking)	be stubborn in resolution or resistance
specifically design a product, event, or activity for a certain public	steer away from shore, of ships
command with authority	distinguish oneself
give directions to; point somebody into a certain direction	be highly noticeable
put an address on (an envelope)
point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards
intend (something) to move towards a certain goal
guide the actors in (plays and films)
lead, as in the performance of a composition
take somebody somewhere
cause to go somewhere
direct the course; determine the direction of travelling
govern or manage

direct (adverb)	stand out (adverb)
without deviation