What does "projectile" mean in physics?

In physics, a projectile is an object to which some velocity is provided and is then left to move in the gravitational field under the influence of only the gravitational force. Examples of projectiles include a ball thrown by a player or hit with a baseball bat.

The movement of a projectile is divided into two perpendicular components: the horizontal and the vertical. A projectile shot anywhere between these two directions will have some motion in both directions and a curved trajectory. The path followed by the projectile after being fired is known as its trajectory. The range of a projectile is the horizontal distance covered by it.