A direction (bearing) in navigation usually is referred to a standard North direction as a clockwise angle from that north direction. Generally, we use any of several north reference directions for specific purposes: true north, magnetic north, and grid north. The related bearing directions are referred to as true bearing, magnetic bearing and grid bearing.

So, a true direction (or bearing) is the clockwise angle between the direction of true north (at the location) and the direction in which you have an interest at the time.