project

Etymology

From Latin prōiectus, perfect passive participle of prōiciō (“throw forth, extend; expel”).

noun

1. A planned endeavor, usually with a specific goal and accomplished in several steps or stages.
   projects of happiness devised by human reason a. 1729, John Rogers, The Greatness of the Gospel Salvation
   Rainbow, […]came forward enthusiastically to put its money into the project in sums which ran all the way from one share at ten dollars to ten shares 1924, Clarence Budington Kelland, The Steadfast Heart/Chapter 22
   The proposal with China would involve a project to create artificial rain. Audio (US) (file) 2019, VOA Learning English (public domain)
2. (usually in the plural, US) An urban low-income housing building.
   Projects like Pruitt-Igoe were considered irreparably dangerous and demolished.
   Experiments when needles and skin connect / No wonder where we live is called the projects 1996, “Stakes is High”, in Stakes Is High, performed by De La Soul
   Imagine rock up in them projects / Where them niggas pick your pockets 2012, “Money Trees”, in Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, performed by Kendrick Lamar ft. Jay Rock
3. (dated) An idle scheme; an impracticable design.
   a man given to projects
4. (US, sports) a raw recruit who the team hopes will improve greatly with coaching; a long shot diamond in the rough
   Sakho was seen as no-frills, whereas Maiga was a project who could develop into the next big thing. Oct 27 2014, Gabriele Marcotti, “Ancelotti triumphs, van Gaal's progress, Dortmund disappoint, more”, in ESPN FC
   Elway acknowledged at the time that Lynch was a project who needed some seasoning but he expressed hope that Lynch might be a quick study. He wasn't. Sep 2 2018, Arnie Melendrez Stapleton, “Broncos cut ties with 2016 first-round pick QB Lynch”, in WNYT
5. (obsolete) A projectile.
6. (obsolete) A projection.

verb

1. (intransitive) To extend beyond a surface.
2. (transitive) To cast (an image or shadow) upon a surface; to throw or cast forward; to shoot forth.
3. (transitive) To extend (a protrusion or appendage) outward.
4. (transitive) To make plans for; to forecast.
   The CEO is projecting the completion of the acquisition by April 2007.
5. (transitive, reflexive) To present (oneself), to convey a certain impression, usually in a good way.
   It is difficult to gauge the exact point at which women stop trying to fool men and really begin to deceive themselves, but an objective analyst cannot escape the conclusion (1) that partly from a natural device inherent in the species, women deliberately project upon actual or potential suitors an impression of themselves that is not an accurate picture of their total nature, and (2) that few women ever are privileged to see themselves as they really are. 1946, Dr. Ralph S. Banay, The Milwaukee Journal, Is Modern Woman a Failure
6. (transitive, psychology, psychoanalysis) To assume qualities or mindsets in others based on one's own personality.
7. (cartography) To change the projection (or coordinate system) of spatial data with another projection.
8. (geometry) To draw straight lines from a fixed point through every point of any body or figure, and let these fall upon a surface so as to form the points of a new figure.
9. (neuroanatomy) (of a neuron or group of neurons) to have axon(s) extending to and therefore able to influence a remote location
10. (transitive) To cause (one's voice or words) to be heard at a great distance.
    to project one's voice
11. (intransitive) To speak or sing in such a way that one can be heard at a great distance.
    You would think that topic coulda put me to sleep, but HE can really project when HE wants to. 2016, Sam Esmail, Courtney Looney, Mr. Robot: Red Wheelbarrow: eps1.91_redwheelbarr0w.txt, Abrams Books, New York City