"This institution has been on a steep trajectory," she said of Syracuse.

He likened Fitzgerald to a dying butterfly, a glass-jawed boxer and an unguided missile crashing to earth on a "very steep trajectory."

"He's had a very steep trajectory as a career," said Robert Stein, a professor of political science at Rice.

The undershoot trajectory is defined by the steepest allowable trajectory.

This pales into significance against the seven-figure sponsorship deals McIlroy stands to acquire should he continue on his dizzyingly steep trajectory to the top.

This was done as a counter to the steep parabolic trajectory of inbound ballistic missiles.

One projectile had traveled from a steep downward trajectory, evidently from the house opposite.

That, and an improving economy, could return executive pay to its previous, steep trajectory.

He recruited deans and faculty that together have put Tufts on a steep upward trajectory.

The partnership comprises three distinct businesses that have had varying degrees of success in maintaining the steep trajectory of the early days.