(1) A statement that controls what the compiler does rather than what the compiled program does.
(2) In COBOL, a statement, beginning with a compiler-directing verb, that causes the compiler to take a specific action during compilation. The compiler-directing statements are the COPY, ENTER, REPLACE, and USE statements.
(3) In RPG, an instruction that controls a compilation listing or causes records to be inserted. The four compiler directives are /TITLE, /EJECT, /SPACE, and /COPY.