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| n. 1. An undertaking requiring concerted effort: a community cleanup project; a government-funded irrigation project. 2. An extensive task undertaken by a student or group of students to apply, illustrate, or supplement classroom lessons. 3. A plan or proposal for accomplishing something. See Synonyms at plan. 4. also projects A housing project. v. pro·ject (prə-jĕkt)pro·ject·ed, pro·ject·ing, pro·jects v. tr. 1. To thrust outward or forward: project one's jaw in defiance. 2. To throw forward; hurl: project an arrow. 3. To send out into space; cast: project a light beam. 4. To cause (an image) to appear on a surface by the controlled direction of light: projected the slide onto a screen. 5. Mathematics To produce (a projection). 6. To direct (one's voice) so as to be heard clearly at a distance. 7. Psychology To attribute (one's own emotion or motive, for example) to someone else unconsciously in order to avoid anxiety or guilt. 8. To convey an impression of to an audience or to others: a posture that projects defeat. 9. To form a plan or intention for: project a new business enterprise. 10. To calculate, estimate, or predict (something in the future), based on present data or trends: projecting next year's expenses. v. intr. 2. 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; see yē- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] pro·jecta·ble adj. |
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