n.
- A plan or proposal; a scheme. See synonyms at plan.
- An undertaking requiring concerted effort: a community cleanup project; a government-funded irrigation project.
- An extensive task undertaken by a student or group of students to apply, illustrate, or supplement classroom lessons.
- A housing project.
v. pro·ject (prə-jĕkt'), -ject·ed, -ject·ing, -jects. v.tr.
- To thrust outward or forward: project one's jaw in defiance.
- To throw forward; hurl: project an arrow.
- To send out into space; cast: project a light beam.
- To cause (an image) to appear on a surface: projected the slide onto a screen.
- Mathematics. To produce (a projection).
- To direct (one's voice) so as to be heard clearly at a distance.
- Psychology. To externalize and attribute (an emotion or motive, for example) unconsciously to someone or something else in order to avoid anxiety.
- To convey an impression of to an audience or to others: a posture that projects defeat.
- To form a plan or intention for: project a new business enterprise.
- To calculate, estimate, or predict (something in the future), based on present data or trends: projecting next year's expenses.
- To extend forward or out; jut out: beams that project beyond the eaves. See synonyms at bulge.
- To direct one's voice so as to be heard clearly at a distance.
[Middle English projecte, from Latin prōiectum, projecting structure, from neuter past participle of prōicere, to throw out : prō-, forth; see pro-1 + iacere, to throw.]
projectable pro·ject'a·ble adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
