projectile

[ pruh-jek-til, -tahyl ]

/ prəˈdʒɛk tɪl, -taɪl /

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See synonyms for: projectile / projectiles on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

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

adjective

impelling or driving forward, as a force.

caused by impulse, as motion.

capable of being impelled forward, as a missile.

Zoology. protrusile, as the jaws of a fish.

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Origin of projectile

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

Words nearby projectile

prohibitory, prohormone, proinsulin, project, projected window, projectile, projection, projection booth, projectionist, projection machine, projection paper

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use projectile in a sentence

Another received “significant facial injuries” after being hit by a projectile.
Woman dies after shooting in U.S. Capitol; D.C. National Guard activated after mob breaches building|Washington Post Staff|January 7, 2021|Washington Post
Imagine that if you fall, your board can become a deadly, boomeranging projectile.
How I Learned to Surf in Middle Age|Tom Vanderbilt|January 5, 2021|Outside Online
Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez has said she’ll bring back legislation to curtail the use of non-lethal police projectiles against protesters and journalists.
Sacramento Report: Shutdowns Loom as the Legislature Returns|Sara Libby|December 4, 2020|Voice of San Diego
It fired a larger projectile in April that same year, diving down to the surface a couple months later to retrieve even more ejected material.
Japan is about to bring back samples of an asteroid 180 million miles away|Neel Patel|December 2, 2020|MIT Technology Review

The projectile traveled through the kitchen and struck a display case in the living room.
Prince William County crime report||November 11, 2020|Washington Post
And this week Ducati has closed the gap even further, with an outlandish projectile dubbed the “Panigale.”
Ducati’s Panigale and History’s Most Innovative Motorcycles|Chris Hunter|November 13, 2011|DAILY BEAST
He was allegedly struck by a police projectile and is now in serious but stable condition.
U.K. May Boot 'Occupy' Protesters|The Daily Beast|October 17, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Out of it in a sharp right turn shot a projectile, tiny and glistening against the velvet black.
Astounding Stories, May, 1931|Various
Then he picked up another and followed through with a second projectile.
Islands of Space|John W Campbell
I went at once to the cylinder we used for discharging things from the projectile.
Pharaoh's Broker|Ellsworth Douglass
But primarily, this is a test of the projectile and a journey of exploration and research.
Pharaoh's Broker|Ellsworth Douglass
They are examining the projectile and trying to break it open.
Pharaoh's Broker|Ellsworth Douglass

British Dictionary definitions for projectile

projectile

/ (prəˈdʒɛktaɪl) /

noun

an object or body thrown forwards

any self-propelling missile, esp one powered by a rocket or the rocket itself

any object that can be fired from a gun, such as a bullet or shell

adjective

capable of being or designed to be hurled forwards

projecting or thrusting forwards

zoology another word for protrusile

Word Origin for projectile

C17: from New Latin prōjectilis jutting forwards

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

projectile

Origin of projectile

Words nearby projectile

Words related to projectile

How to use projectile in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for projectile

Word Origin for projectile