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Definition of projectile - 5 dictionary results

pro⋅jec⋅tile

  [pruh-jek-til, -tahyl]
Use projectile in a Sentence
–noun
1. an object fired from a gun with an explosive propelling charge, such as a bullet, shell, rocket, or grenade.
2. a body projected or impelled forward, as through the air.
–adjective
3. impelling or driving forward, as a force.
4. caused by impulse, as motion.
5. capable of being impelled forward, as a missile.
6. Zoology. protrusile, as the jaws of a fish.
Origin:
1655–65; < NL, neut. of prōjectilis (adj.) projecting. See project, -ile
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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pro·jec·tile   (prə-jěk'təl, -tīl')   
n.  
  1. A fired, thrown, or otherwise propelled object, such as a bullet, having no capacity for self-propulsion.
  2. A self-propelled missile, such as a rocket.
adj.  
  1. Capable of being impelled or hurled forward.
  2. Driving forward; impelling: a projectile force.
  3. Zoology Capable of being thrust outward; protrusile.

[New Latin proiectile, neuter of prōiectilis, that can be thrown, from Latin prōiectus, past participle of prōicere, to throw out; see project.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Projectile

Pro*ject"ile\, a. [Cf. F. projectile.]

1. Projecting or impelling forward; as, a projectile force.

2. Caused or imparted by impulse or projection; impelled forward; as, projectile motion. --Arbuthnot.

Projectile

Pro*ject"ile\, n. [Cf. F. projectile.]

1. A body projected, or impelled forward, by force; especially, a missile adapted to be shot from a firearm.

2. pl. (Mech.) A part of mechanics which treats of the motion, range, time of flight, etc., of bodies thrown or driven through the air by an impelling force.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : projectile
Spanish: proyectil,
German: das Geschoß,
Japanese: 発射体
More Translations »

projectile 
1665, from Mod.L. projectilis, from L. projectus, pp. of proicere (see project).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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