project

[ noun proj-ekt, -ikt; verb pruh-jekt ]

noun

1. something that is contemplated, devised, or planned; plan; scheme:

   I have several little projects around the house that I’d like to tackle in my time off.

   Synonyms: proposal

2. a large or major undertaking, especially one involving considerable money, personnel, and equipment:

   The city is undertaking several public works projects to modernize and upgrade infrastructure.

3. a specific task of investigation, especially in scholarship:

   Federal funding supports some cancer-related projects while other research is sustained by private grants.

4. Education. a supplementary, long-term educational assignment necessitating personal initiative, undertaken by an individual student or a group of students:

   For my literature class project, I wrote an original rock opera and performed one song from it.

5. the projects, Informal. a housing project, typically one constructed as a development of high-rise towers with apartments for low-income residents, especially in the second half of the 20th century:

   Back in those days, the projects were no place to raise a family.

verb (used with object)

1. to propose, contemplate, or plan.

   Synonyms: devise, plot, scheme, contrive

2. to throw, cast, or impel forward or onward.
3. to set forth or calculate (some future thing):

   They projected the building costs for the next five years.

   Synonyms: predict

4. to throw or cause to fall upon a surface or into space, as a ray of light or a shadow.
5. to cause (a figure or image) to appear, as on a background.
6. to regard (something within the mind, as a feeling, thought, or attitude) as having some form of reality outside the mind:

   He projected a thrilling picture of the party's future.

7. to cause to jut out or protrude.
8. Geometry.
   1. to throw forward an image of (a figure or the like) by straight lines or rays, either parallel, converging, or diverging, that pass through all its points and reproduce it on another surface or figure.
   2. to transform the points (of one figure) into those of another by a correspondence between points.
9. to present (an idea, program, etc.) for consideration or action:

   They made every effort to project the notion of world peace.

10. to use (one's voice, gestures, etc.) forcefully enough to be perceived at a distance, as by all members of the audience in a theater.
11. to communicate clearly and forcefully (one's thoughts, personality, role, etc.) to an audience, as in a theatrical performance; produce a compelling image of.
12. to cause (the voice) to appear to come from a source other than oneself, as in ventriloquism; throw.

verb (used without object)

1. to extend or protrude beyond something else.

   Synonyms: overhang, obtrude, bulge

2. to use one's voice forcefully enough to be heard at a distance, as in a theater.
3. to produce a clear impression of one's thoughts, personality, role, etc., in an audience; communicate clearly and forcefully.
4. Psychology. to ascribe one's own feelings, thoughts, or attitudes to others.

project

noun

1. a proposal, scheme, or design
2. 1. a task requiring considerable or concerted effort, such as one by students
   2. the subject of such a task
3. short for housing project

verb

1. tr to propose or plan
2. tr to predict; estimate; extrapolate

   we can project future needs on the basis of the current birth rate

3. tr to throw or cast forwards
4. to jut or cause to jut out
5. tr to send forth or transport in the imagination

   to project oneself into the future

6. tr to cause (an image) to appear on a surface
7. to cause (one's voice) to be heard clearly at a distance
8. psychol
   1. intr (esp of a child) to believe that others share one's subjective mental life
   2. to impute to others (one's hidden desires and impulses), esp as a means of defending oneself Compare introject
9. tr geometry to draw a projection of
10. intr to communicate effectively, esp to a large gathering

Other Words From

• pro·jecta·ble adjective
• pro·jecting·ly adverb
• counter·project noun
• nonpro·jecting adjective
• repro·ject verb
• subproject noun
• unpro·jected adjective
• unpro·jecting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of project¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English noun project(e) “design, plan,” from Medieval Latin prōjectum, Latin: “projecting part,” noun use of neuter of Latin prōjectus, past participle of prōicere “to throw forward, extend,” equivalent to prō- pro- ¹ + -icere, combining form of jacere “to throw”

Word History and Origins

Origin of project¹

C14: from Latin prōicere to throw down, from pro- ¹+ iacere to throw

Synonym Study

See plan.

Example Sentences

The experiment is now in its fourth of five years surveying the sky and plans to collect roughly 40 million galaxies and quasars by the time the project ends.

From Science Daily

"It would just be lovely to see things going forward like music projects and young people getting their lessons and improving on instruments," she said, "knowing that Harvey's legacy is helping that to happen."

From BBC

Federal prosecutors accused him and his associates of offering $265 million to Indian officials and lying about the bribery scheme to Wall Street investors when raising money for a massive renewable energy project.

From New York Times

“Precious pieces of wood saved from other projects or found while hiking, ideas that came to us in the middle of the night and a desire to create beautiful, useful things.”

From Los Angeles Times

I have a vocal coach who worked with me on my last project, on “Aretha.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• activity
• business
• deal
• design
• enterprise
• job
• plan
• program
• proposal
• scheme
• strategy
• task
• venture