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launch
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As a verb, launch means throw (a projectile such as a lance, dart or ball). As a noun, it means the movement of a vessel from land into the water.
Meanings of launch
22 meaningsverb
To throw (a projectile such as a lance, dart or ball); to hurl; to propel with force.
To cause (a vessel) to move or slide from the land or a larger vessel into the water; to set afloat.
“The navy launched another ship.”
To cause (a rocket, balloon, etc., or the payload thereof) to begin its flight upward from the ground.
“NASA launched several unmanned rockets before launching any of the Mercury astronauts.”
To send out; to start (someone) on a mission or project; to give a start to (something); to put in operation
“Our business launched a new project.”
computingTo start (a program or feature); to execute or bring into operation.
“Double-click an icon to launch the associated application.”
To release; to put onto the market for sale
Of a ship, rocket, balloon, etc.: to depart on a voyage; to take off.
often with outTo move with force and swiftness like a sliding from the stocks into the water; to plunge; to begin.
“to launch into an argument or discussion”
“to launch into lavish expenditures”
computingof a programTo start to operate.
“After clicking the icon, the application will launch.”
Launch for the first time; launch on a maiden voyage
“launch a ship”
Get going; give impetus to
“launch a career”
“Her actions set in motion a complicated judicial process”
Similar: set in motionSmoothen the surface of
“launch plaster”
Older and rare meanings (1)
obsoleteTo pierce with, or as with, a lance.
noun
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.
“product launch”
nauticalThe 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".
nauticalA boat used to convey guests to and from a yacht.
nauticalAn open boat of any size powered by steam, petrol, electricity, etc.
A motorboat with an open deck or a half deck
The act of propelling with force
Similar: launching
Meanings from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).