protrude

UK: /prəˈtruːd/ US: /proʊˈtrud, prə-/ ,(prō tro̅o̅d′, prə-)

Inflections of 'protrude' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

protrudes

v 3rd person singular

protruding

v pres p

protruded

v past

protruded

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

pro•trude /proʊˈtrud, prə-/   v., -trud•ed, -trud•ing. 

1. to (cause to) stick out: [no object]
   His enormous belly protruded over his belt.
   [~ + object]
   The snake protruded its tongue.

See -trude-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

pro•trude  (prō tro̅o̅d′, prə-), v., -trud•ed, -trud•ing. 
v.i. 

1. to project.

v.t. 

2. to thrust forward; cause to project.

• Latin prōtrūdere to thrust forward, equivalent. to prō- pro-¹ + trūdere to thrust
• 1610–20

pro•trud′ent, adj. 
pro•tru•si•ble  (prō tro̅o̅′sə bəl, -zə-, prə-), pro•trud′a•ble, adj.  Synonyms

• 1. bulge, swell, belly.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

protrude / prəˈtruːd/ verb

1. to thrust or cause to thrust forwards or outwards
2. to project or cause to project from or as if from a surface

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin, from pro-² + trudere to thrust