Launch

//lɑːnt͡ʃ// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    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.)
  2. 2
    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".
  3. 3
    the act of propelling with force wordnet
  4. 4
    The act or fact of launching (a ship/vessel, a project, a new book, etc.).

    "Dotcom mania was slow in coming to higher education, but now it has the venerable industry firmly in its grip. Since the launch early last year of Udacity and Coursera, two Silicon Valley start-ups offering free education through MOOCs, massive open online courses, the ivory towers of academia have been shaken to their foundations."

  5. 5
    A boat used to convey guests to and from a yacht.
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  1. 6
    a motorboat with an open deck or a half deck wordnet
  2. 7
    An event held to celebrate the launch of a ship/vessel, project, a new book, etc.; a launch party.

    "product launch"

  3. 8
    An open boat of any size powered by steam, petrol, electricity, etc.
Verb
  1. 1
    To throw (a projectile such as a lance, dart or ball); to hurl; to propel with force. transitive

    "There they were met by four thousand Ha'apa'a warriors, who launched a volley of stones and spears[…]"

  2. 2
    begin with vigor wordnet
  3. 3
    To pierce with, or as with, a lance. obsolete, transitive

    "And launch your hearts with lamentable wounds."

  4. 4
    smoothen the surface of wordnet
  5. 5
    To cause (a vessel) to move or slide from the land or a larger vessel into the water; to set afloat. transitive

    "Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught."

Show 11 more definitions
  1. 6
    propel with force wordnet
  2. 7
    To cause (a rocket, balloon, etc., or the payload thereof) to begin its flight upward from the ground. transitive

    "A cheap rocket that could launch military reconnaisance satellites for developing countries has become involved in a tangled web of Nazi rocket scientists, Penthouse magazine, KGB disinformation, and a treaty reminiscent of the height of colonialism in Africa."

  3. 8
    get going; give impetus to wordnet
  4. 9
    To send out; to start (someone) on a mission or project; to give a start to (something); to put in operation transitive

    "Our business launched a new project."

  5. 10
    launch for the first time; launch on a maiden voyage wordnet
  6. 11
    To start (a program or feature); to execute or bring into operation. transitive

    "Double-click an icon to launch the associated application."

  7. 12
    set up or found wordnet
  8. 13
    To release; to put onto the market for sale transitive

    "On September 3rd Bionym, a Canadian firm, launched Nymi, a bracelet which detects the wearer’s heartbeat."

  9. 14
    Of a ship, rocket, balloon, etc.: to depart on a voyage; to take off. intransitive
  10. 15
    To move with force and swiftness like a sliding from the stocks into the water; to plunge; to begin. intransitive, often

    "In our language, Spenſer has not contented himſelf with this ſubmiſſive manner of imitation : he launches out into very flowery paths[…]"

  11. 16
    To start to operate. intransitive

    "After clicking the icon, the application will launch."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English launchen (“to throw as a lance”), Old French lanchier, another form (Old Northern French/Norman variant, compare Jèrriais lanchi) of lancier, French lancer, from lance.

Etymology 2

From Middle English launchen (“to throw as a lance”), Old French lanchier, another form (Old Northern French/Norman variant, compare Jèrriais lanchi) of lancier, French lancer, from lance.

Etymology 3

From Portuguese lancha (“barge, launch”), apparently from Malay lancar (“quick, agile”). Spelling influenced by the verb above.

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