LAUNCH

launching, launch

(noun) the act of propelling with force

launch

(noun) a motorboat with an open deck or a half deck

launch

(verb) smoothen the surface of; “launch plaster”

launch

(verb) propel with force; “launch the space shuttle”; “Launch a ship”

launch, set in motion

(verb) get going; give impetus to; “launch a career”; “Her actions set in motion a complicated judicial process”

launch

(verb) launch for the first time; launch on a maiden voyage; “launch a ship”

establish, set up, found, launch

(verb) set up or found; “She set up a literacy program”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology 1

Verb

launch (third-person singular simple present launches, present participle launching, simple past and past participle (obsolete) launcht or launched)

(transitive) To throw (a projectile such as a lance, dart or ball); to hurl; to propel with force.

(transitive, obsolete) To pierce with, or as with, a lance.

Synonyms: lance, pierce

(transitive) To cause (a vessel) to move or slide from the land or a larger vessel into the water; to set afloat.

(transitive) To cause (a rocket, balloon, etc, or the payload thereof) to begin its flight upward from the ground.

(transitive) To send out; to start (someone) on a mission or project; to give a start to (something); to put in operation

(transitive, computing) To start (a program or feature); to execute or bring into operation.

(transitive) To release; to put onto the market for sale

(intransitive) Of a ship, rocket, balloon, etc.: to depart on a voyage; to take off.

(intransitive, often with out) To move with force and swiftness like a sliding from the stocks into the water; to plunge; to begin.

(intransitive, computing, of a program) To start to operate.

Noun

launch (plural launches)

The movement of a vessel from land into the water; especially, the sliding on ways from the stocks on which it is built. (Compare: to splash a ship.)

The act or fact of launching (a ship/vessel, a project, a new book, etc.).

An event held to celebrate the launch of a ship/vessel, project, a new book, etc.; a launch party.

Hyponyms

• cold launch

• hard launch

• hot launch

• soft launch

Etymology 2

Noun

launch (plural launches)

(nautical) The boat of the largest size and/or of most importance belonging to a ship of war, and often called the "captain's boat" or "captain's launch".

(nautical) A boat used to convey guests to and from a yacht.

(nautical) An open boat of any size powered by steam, petrol, electricity, etc.

Anagrams

• chulan, nuchal

Source: Wiktionary


Launch, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Launched; p. pr. & vb. n. Launching.] Etym: [OE. launchen to throw as a lance, OF. lanchier, another form of lancier, F. lancer, fr. lance lance. See Lance.] [Written also lanch.]

1. To throw, as a lance or dart; to hurl; to let fly.

2. To strike with, or as with, a lance; to pierce. [Obs.] Launch your hearts with lamentable wounds. Spenser.

3. To cause to move or slide from the land into the water; to set afloat; as, to launch a ship. With stays and cordage last he rigged the ship, And rolled on levers, launched her in the deep. Pope.

4. To send out; to start (one) on a career; to set going; to give a start to (something); to put in operation; as, to launch a son in the world; to launch a business project or enterprise. All art is used to sink episcopacy, and launch presbytery in England. Eikon Basilike.

Launch, v. i.

Definition: To move with force and swiftness like a sliding from the stocks into the water; to plunge; to make a beginning; as, to launch into the current of a stream; to launch into an argument or discussion; to launch into lavish expenditures; -- often with out. Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. Luke v. 4. He [Spenser] launches out into very flowery paths. Prior.

Launch, n.

1. The act of launching.

2. The movement of a vessel from land into the water; especially, the sliding on ways from the stocks on which it is built.

3. Etym: [Cf. Sp. lancha.] (Naut.)

Definition: The boat of the largest size belonging to a ship of war; also, an open boat of any size driven by steam, naphtha, electricity, or the like. Launching ways. (Naut.) See Way, n. (Naut.).

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

22 January 2025

MEGALITH

(noun) memorial consisting of a very large stone forming part of a prehistoric structure (especially in western Europe)


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Coffee Trivia

There are four varieties of commercially viable coffee: Arabica, Liberica, Excelsa, and Robusta. Growers predominantly plant the Arabica species. Although less popular, Robusta tastes slightly more bitter and contains more caffeine.

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