What does "trajectory" mean?

1. (physical path) the curved path that an object, like a ball or a rocket, follows as it moves through the air or space. 2. (career or life path) the way that something changes or develops over time, such as your career or a country's economy. 3. (mathematical system) the set of states a system goes through over time.

trajectory

US //tɹəˈdʒɛktɝi// UK //tɹədʒˈɛktəɹˌi// tra·jec·to·ry

1 physical path (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Science

the curved path that an object, like a ball or a rocket, follows as it moves through the air or space.

the path described by an object moving under the influence of gravity or other forces.

Example

The scientists calculated the rocket's trajectory to ensure it would reach the moon safely.

Example

The artillery officer adjusted the angle of the cannon to account for wind resistance, ensuring the shell followed a precise trajectory toward the target.
2 career or life path (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

the way that something changes or develops over time, such as your career or a country's economy.

a course of development or a sequence of events over time. Often used in professional or economic contexts.

Example

Her career trajectory changed completely after she decided to go back to university.

Example

The company's growth trajectory suggests that they will become the market leader within the next three fiscal years.

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3 mathematical system (n.)
C2 Proficiency Technical Math

the set of states a system goes through over time.

the ordered set of intermediate states assumed by a dynamical system as a result of time evolution.

Example

The computer model showed the trajectory of the weather system over the next week.

Example

In chaos theory, even a slight change in initial conditions can result in a wildly different trajectory for the entire system.
- orbit
- sequence

Origin

From New Latin trāiectōria f (“trajectory”) (used by Newton), the feminine of trāiectōrius (“of or pertaining to throwing across”), from Latin trāiectus (“thrown over or across”), past participle of trāiciō, from trans- (“across, beyond”) (see trans-) + iaciō (“to throw”) (from Proto-Indo-European *(H)yeh₁- (“to throw, impel”)). Middle French and Middle English had trajectorie (“end of a funnel”), from Latin trāiectōrium.