pro·jec·tile

(prə-jĕk′təl, -tīl′)

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.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

projectile

(prəˈdʒɛktaɪl)

1. an object or body thrown forwards

2. (Firearms, Gunnery, Ordnance & Artillery) any self-propelling missile, esp one powered by a rocket or the rocket itself

3. (Firearms, Gunnery, Ordnance & Artillery) any object that can be fired from a gun, such as a bullet or shell

adj

4. capable of being or designed to be hurled forwards

5. projecting or thrusting forwards

6. (Zoology) zoology another word for protrusile

[C17: from New Latin prōjectilis jutting forwards]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

pro•jec•tile

(prəˈdʒɛk tɪl, -taɪl)

n.

1. an object fired from a gun with an explosive propelling charge, as a bullet, shell, or grenade.

2. a body projected or impelled forward, as through the air.

adj.

3. impelling or driving forward, as a force.

4. caused by impulse, as motion.

5. capable of being thrust or flung forward, as a missile or the tongue of a frog.

[1655–65; < New Latin, neuter of prōjectilis (adj.) projecting. See project, -tile]

projectile

An object capable of being propelled by a force normally from a gun, and continuing in motion by virtue of its kinetic energy.

Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. US Department of Defense 2005.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	projectile - a weapon that is forcibly thrown or projected at a targets but is not self-propelled missile arrow - a projectile with a straight thin shaft and an arrowhead on one end and stabilizing vanes on the other; intended to be shot from a bow boomerang, throw stick, throwing stick - a curved piece of wood; when properly thrown will return to thrower bullet, slug - a projectile that is fired from a gun cannon ball, cannonball, round shot - a solid projectile that in former times was fired from a cannon dart - a small narrow pointed missile that is thrown or shot seeker - a missile equipped with a device that is attracted toward some kind of emission (heat or light or sound or radio waves) pellet, shot - a solid missile discharged from a firearm; "the shot buzzed past his ear" spitball - a projectile made by chewing a piece of paper and shaping it into a sphere weapon, weapon system, arm - any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting; "he was licensed to carry a weapon"
	2.	projectile - any vehicle self-propelled by a rocket engine rocket missile - a rocket carrying a warhead of conventional or nuclear explosives; may be ballistic or directed by remote control multistage rocket, step rocket - a rocket having two or more rocket engines (each with its own fuel) that are fired in succession and jettisoned when the fuel is exhausted rocket engine, rocket - a jet engine containing its own propellant and driven by reaction propulsion research rocket, test instrument vehicle, test rocket - a rocket fired for test purposes vehicle - a conveyance that transports people or objects
Adj.	1.	projectile - impelling or impelled forward; "a projectile force"; "a projectile missile" dynamic, dynamical - characterized by action or forcefulness or force of personality; "a dynamic market"; "a dynamic speaker"; "the dynamic president of the firm"

projectile

noun missile, shell, bullet, rocket an enormous artillery gun used to fire a huge projectile

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

قَذيفَه

střela

projektil

skeyti, skot

mermipatlayıcı maddeler

射弹

projectile

[prəˈdʒektaɪl] N → proyectil m

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

projectile

[prəˈdʒɛktaɪl] n → projectile m

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

projectile

n → (Wurf)geschoss nt, → (Wurf)geschoß nt (Aus); (Mil) → Geschoss nt, → Geschoß nt (Aus), → Projektil nt (spec)

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

projectile

[prəˈdʒɛktaɪl] n → proiettile m

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

project

(ˈprodʒekt) noun

1. a plan or scheme. a building project.

2. a piece of study or research. I am doing a project on Italian art.

(prəˈdʒekt) verb

1. to throw outwards, forwards or upwards. The missile was projected into space.

2. to stick out. A sharp rock projected from the sea.

3. to plan or propose.

4. to make a picture or a film appear on a screen.

proˈjectile (-tail) , ((American) -tl) noun

something that is thrown, usually as a weapon.

proˈjection (-ʃən) noun

proˈjector noun

a machine for projecting films, slides or transparencies onto a screen. a slide projector; an overhead projector (for transparencies).

projectile

n proyectil m; — vomiting vómito(s) en proyectil, vómito(s) fuertes

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

The members of the Gun Club, a circle of artillerymen formed at Baltimore after the American war, conceived the idea of putting themselves in communication with the moon!-- yes, with the moon-- by sending to her a projectile. Their president, Barbicane, the promoter of the enterprise, having consulted the astronomers of the Cambridge Observatory upon the subject, took all necessary means to ensure the success of this extraordinary enterprise, which had been declared practicable by the majority of competent judges.

According to the advice forwarded from the members of the Observatory, the gun destined to launch the projectile had to be fixed in a country situated between the 0 and 28th degrees of north or south latitude, in order to aim at the moon when at the zenith; and its initiatory velocity was fixed at twelve thousand yards to the second.

Maston, and other learned men, held several meetings, at which the shape and composition of the projectile were discussed, also the position and nature of the gun, and the quality and quantity of powder to be used.

Third, that the charge should contain 400,000 pounds of gun-cotton, which, giving out six billions of litres of gas in rear of the projectile, would easily carry it toward the orb of night.

A Frenchman, an enthusiastic Parisian, as witty as he was bold, asked to be enclosed in the projectile, in order that he might reach the moon, and reconnoiter this terrestrial satellite.

Indeed it was thought that all observations would have to be put off to the 3d of January in the following year; for the moon entering its last quarter on the 11th, would then only present an ever-decreasing portion of her disc, insufficient to allow of their following the course of the projectile.

View in context

Is it possible to transmit a projectile up to the moon?

What will be the period of transit of the projectile when endowed with sufficient initial velocity?

At what precise moment will the moon present herself in the most favorable position to be reached by the projectile?

What point in the heavens ought the cannon to be aimed at which is intended to discharge the projectile?

What place will the moon occupy in the heavens at the moment of the projectile's departure?"

Regarding the first question, "Is it possible to transmit a projectile up to the moon?"

View in context