project

 

noun

Pronunciation: /ˈprɒdʒɛkt/
  • 1an individual or collaborative enterprise that is carefully planned to achieve a particular aim: a research project a project to build a new power station
  • a piece of research work undertaken by a school or college student: a history project
  • a proposed or planned undertaking: the novel undermines its own stated project of telling a story
  • 2 (also housing project) North American a government-subsidized housing development with relatively low rents: her family still lives in the projects

verb

Pronunciation: /prəˈdʒɛkt/
[with object]
  • 1estimate or forecast (something) on the basis of present trends: spending was projected at £72,900 million
  • (often as adjective projected) plan (a scheme or undertaking): a projected exhibition of contemporary art
  • 2 [no object] extend outwards beyond something else; protrude: I noticed a slip of paper projecting from the book (as adjective projecting) a projecting bay window
  • 3 [with object and adverbial of direction] throw or cause to move forward or outward: seeds are projected from the tree
  • cause (light, shadow, or an image) to fall on a surface: the one light projected shadows on the wall
  • cause (a sound) to be heard at a distance: being audible depends on your ability to project your voice
  • imagine (oneself, a situation, etc.) as having moved to a different place or time: people may be projecting the present into the past
  • 4present or promote (a particular view or image): he strives to project an image of youth
  • present (someone or something) in a particular way: she liked to project herself more as a friend than a doctor
  • display (an emotion or quality) in one’s behaviour: everyone would be amazed that a young girl could project such depths of emotion
  • (project something on to) attribute or transfer an emotion or desire to (another person), especially unconsciously: men may sometimes project their own fears on to women
  • 5 Geometry draw straight lines through (a given figure) to produce a corresponding figure on a surface or a line.
  • 6make a projection of (the earth, sky, etc.) on a plane surface.

Origin:

late Middle English (in the sense 'preliminary design, tabulated statement'): from Latin projectum 'something prominent', neuter past participle of proicere 'throw forth', from pro- 'forth' + jacere 'to throw'. Early senses of the verb were 'plan' and 'cause to move forward'