Adjacent Words

Launch definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

LAUNCH, [See Lanch, the more correct orthography.]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a motorboat with an open deck or a half deck
2: the act of propelling with force [syn: launching, launch] v
1: set up or found; "She set up a literacy program" [syn: establish, set up, found, launch] [ant: abolish, get rid of]
2: propel with force; "launch the space shuttle"; "Launch a ship"
3: launch for the first time; launch on a maiden voyage; "launch a ship"
4: begin with vigor; "He launched into a long diatribe"; "She plunged into a dangerous adventure" [syn: plunge, launch]
5: get going; give impetus to; "launch a career"; "Her actions set in motion a complicated judicial process" [syn: launch, set in motion]
6: smoothen the surface of; "launch plaster"

Merriam Webster's

I. verb Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French *lancher, lancer, from Late Latin lanceare to wield a lance — more at lance Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. a. to throw forward ; hurl b. to release, catapult, or send off (a self-propelled object) <launch a rocket> 2. a. to set (a boat or ship) afloat b. to give (a person) a start <launched her on a new career> c. (1) to put into operation or set in motion ; initiate, introduce (2) to get off to a good start d. to load into a computer's memory and run <launch a program> intransitive verb 1. a. to spring forward ; take off b. to enter energetically <launched into an impromptu speech — Tim Tucker> 2. a. archaic to slide down the ways b. to make a start II. noun Date: 1749 an act or instance of launching III. noun Etymology: Spanish or Portuguese; Spanish lancha, from Portuguese Date: 1697 1. a large boat that operates from a ship 2. a small motorboat that is open or that has the forepart of the hull covered

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. v. & n. --v. 1 tr. set (a vessel) afloat. 2 tr. hurl or send forth (a weapon, rocket, etc.). 3 tr. start or set in motion (an enterprise, a person on a course of action, etc.). 4 tr. formally introduce (a new product) with publicity etc. 5 intr. (often foll. by out, into, etc.) a make a start, esp. on an ambitious enterprise. b burst into strong language etc. --n. the act or an instance of launching. Phrases and idioms: launch (or launching) pad a platform with a supporting structure, from which rockets are launched. Etymology: ME f. AF launcher, ONF lancher, OF lancier LANCE v. 2. n. 1 a large motor boat, used esp. for pleasure. 2 a man-of-war's largest boat. Etymology: Sp. lancha pinnace perh. f. Malay lancharan f. lanchar swift

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Launch Launch, v. i. 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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Launch 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. [Cf. Sp. lancha.] (Naut.) 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.).

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Launch Launch, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Launched; p. pr. & vb. n. Launching.] [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.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(launches, launching, launched) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. To launch a rocket, missile, or satellite means to send it into the air or into space. NASA plans to launch a satellite to study cosmic rays... A Delta II rocket was launched from Cape Canaveral early this morning. VERB: V n, V n • Launch is also a noun. This morning's launch of the space shuttle Columbia has been delayed. N-VAR 2. To launch a ship or a boat means to put it into water, often for the first time after it has been built. There was no time to launch the lifeboats because the ferry capsized with such alarming speed. VERB: V n • Launch is also a noun. The launch of a ship was a big occasion. N-COUNT: usu with poss 3. To launch a large and important activity, for example a military attack, means to start it. Heavy fighting has been going on after the guerrillas had launched their offensive... The police have launched an investigation into the incident... VERB: V n, V n • Launch is also a noun. ...the launch of a campaign to restore law and order. N-COUNT: oft N of n 4. If a company launches a new product, it makes it available to the public. Crabtree & Evelyn has just launched a new jam, Worcesterberry Preserve... Marks & Spencer recently hired model Linda Evangelista to launch its new range. VERB: V n, V n • Launch is also a noun. The company's spending has also risen following the launch of a new Sunday magazine. N-COUNT: oft N of n 5. A launch is a large motorboat that is used for carrying people on rivers and lakes and in harbours. The captain was on the deck of the launch, steadying the boat for the pilot... N-COUNT: also by N

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

lanch, lonch.

See SHIPS AND BOATS, III, 1.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. a. 1. Throw, hurl, cast, dart, lance. 2. Slide from the stocks (as a ship). II. v. n. Enlarge, expatiate, descant, dilate, launch out.

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

The delivery, or labour, of a pregnant woman; a crying out or groaning.

Moby Thesaurus

advance, altitude peak, automatic control, begin, blast off, blast-off, boat, bowl, bring before, bring forward, bring up, broach, bundle, bundle off, bung, burn, burnout, cabin cruiser, cast, catapult, ceiling, christen, chuck, chunk, commence, commend to attention, cruiser, dart, dash, descent, dinghy, discharge, dispatch, embark, embark on, embark upon, end of burning, establish, fire, flight, fling, flip, float, fork, found, get, get going, gig, give a start, heave, hurl, hurtle, ignition, impact, inaugurate, inauguration, induct, initiate, initiation, install, institute, introduce, jerk, kick off, lance, lay before, let fly, lift up, lift-off, lob, make a motion, moot, motor launch, motorboat, move, offer a resolution, open, open up, opening, organize, originate, pass, peg, pelt, pitch, pitchfork, pose, postulate, power cruiser, powerboat, prefer, project, propose, proposition, propound, put, put forth, put forward, put in motion, put it to, put the shot, raise, recommend, ring in, rocket launching, runabout, sedan cruiser, send, send forth, send off, serve, set afloat, set agoing, set before, set forth, set going, set in motion, set on foot, set up, shoot, shot, shy, skiff, sling, snap, speedboat, start, start going, start off, start up, steam launch, submit, suggest, tender, throw, tilt, toss, trajectory, turn on, usher in, velocity peak