projectile adj : impelling or impelled forward; "a projectile force"; "a projectile missile" n : a weapon that is thrown or projected [syn: missile]

Projectile \Pro*ject"ile\, a. [Cf. F. projectile.]
1. Projecting or impelling forward; as, a projectile force.
2. Caused or imparted by impulse or projection; impelled forward; as, projectile motion. --Arbuthnot.

Projectile \Pro*ject"ile\, n. [Cf. F. projectile.]
1. A body projected, or impelled forward, by force; especially, a missile adapted to be shot from a firearm.
2. pl. (Mech.) A part of mechanics which treats of the motion, range, time of flight, etc., of bodies thrown or driven through the air by an impelling force.

See more meaning on Projectile...

A projectile is any object projected into space (empty or not) by the exertion of a force. Although a thrown baseball is technically a projectile too, the term more often refers to a weapon.

For details of the mathematics surrounding projectile trajectory, see equations of motion.

Arrows, darts, spears, and similar weapons are fired using pure mechanical force applied by another object; apart from throwing without tools, mechanisms include the catapult, slingshot, and bow.

Other weapons use the compression or expansion of gases as their motive force.

• North Korea fires projectile into eastern waters
  North Korea fired a projectile into eastern waters today, a day after launching three short-range missiles in the same area. Read more on this news related to 'Projectile'
• NKorea Fires 5th Projectile Into Water
  SKorea: NKorea fires short-range projectile for 3rd straight day; launch considered routine         Read more on this news related to 'Projectile'
• SKorea: NKorea fires 5th projectile into waters
  SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea says North Korea has fired a short-range projectile into its own eastern waters — for the fifth time in three days. Read more on this news related to 'Projectile'