pro·ject • n. / ˈpräjˌekt; -ikt/ 1. an individual or collaborative enterprise that is carefully planned and designed to achieve a particular aim: a research project a nationwide project to encourage business development. ∎  a school assignment undertaken by a student or group of students, typically as a long-term task that requires independent research: a history project. ∎  a proposed or planned undertaking: the novel undermines its own stated project of telling a story.2. (also housing project) a government-subsidized housing development with relatively low rents: her family still lives in the projects.• v. / prəˈjekt; prōˈjekt/ [tr.] 1. (usu. be projected) estimate or forecast (something) on the basis of present trends: spending was projected at $72 million. ∎  [often as adj.] (projected) plan (a scheme or undertaking): a projected exhibition of contemporary art.2. [intr.] extend outward beyond something else; protrude: I noticed a slip of paper projecting from the book | [as adj.] (projecting) a projecting bay window. 3. [tr.] 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, esp. the voice) 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.4. present or promote (a particular view or image): he strives to project an image of youth. ∎  present (someone or something) in a way intended to create a favorable impression: she liked to project herself more as a friend than a doctor. ∎  display (an emotion or quality) in one's behavior: everyone would be amazed that a young girl could project such depths of emotion. ∎  (project something onto) transfer or attribute one’s own emotion or desire to (another person), esp. unconsciously: men may sometimes project their own fears onto women.5. Geom. draw straight lines from a center of or parallel lines through every point of (a given figure) to produce a corresponding figure on a surface or a line by intersecting the surface. ∎  draw (such lines). ∎  produce (such a corresponding figure).6. make a projection of (the earth, sky, etc.) on a plane surface.DERIVATIVES: pro·ject·a·ble / prəˈjektəbəl/ adj.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, devise’ and ‘cause to move forward.’