YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

trajectory

Noun

IPA /trəˈdʒektəri/

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Meaning in plain English

The path followed by something moving through the air.

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Pronunciation

trajectory/trəˈdʒektəri/

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A player throws a ball
The ball follows a curved path through the air
It reaches a point farther away

A trajectory is the path followed by an object moving through the air.

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We watched the trajectory of the ball as it sailed over the fence.
The physics students plotted the trajectory of a thrown object.

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We watched the ________ of the ball as it sailed over the fence.

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trajectory — The path followed by something moving through the air.

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The path followed by something moving through the air.

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Word origin

From modern Latin trajectoria, related to Latin words for throwing across.

Did you know?

Trajectory is also used figuratively for the development of a career or other process.

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