Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
tra·jec·to·ry
\\trə-ˈjek-t(ə-)rē\\ noun
(plural -ries) ETYMOLOGY New Latin trajectoria, from feminine of trajectorius of passing, from Latin traicere to cause to cross, cross, from trans-, tra- trans- + jacere to throw — more at jet
DATE 1696
1. the curve that a body (as a planet or comet in its orbit or a rocket) describes in space2. a path, progression, or line of development resembling a physical trajectory
an upward career trajectory trajectory
trajectory (n.)
1696, from Mod.L. trajectoria, from fem. of trajectorius "of or pertaining to throwing across," from L. trajectus "thrown over or across," pp. of trajicere "throw across," from L. trans- "across" + icere, combining form of jacere "to throw" (see jet). Used in L.L. and M.E. to mean "a funnel."
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7
trajectory
tra·jec·tory / trE5dVektEri / (pl. -ies)noun (technical 术语) the curved path of sth that has been fired, hit or thrown into the air
(射体在空中的)轨道,弹道,轨迹,流轨:
a missile's trajectory
导弹的弹道
(figurative) My career seemed to be on a downward trajectory.
我的事业似乎在走下坡路。
Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged
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midrange trajectory
, or
orthogonal trajectory
tra·jec·to·ryI. \trəˈjekt(ə)rē, -)ri\
adjectiveEtymology: New Latin
trajectorius, from Latin
trajectus (past participle of
trajicere, traicere) +
-orius -ory
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a trajectory
II. noun
(
-es)
Etymology: New Latin
trajectoria, from feminine of
trajectorius1.
a. : the curve that a body (as a planet or comet in its orbit, a projectile in passing from muzzle to first point of impact, or a rocket) describes in space
b. : a path, progression, or line of development likened to a physical trajectory
< the whole modern trajectory from naturalism to symbolism — New Republic >2. : a curve or surface that cuts all the curves or surfaces of a given system at the same angle