n.
Pronunciation: ' lo ̇ nch, ' länch
Function: 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 < launch ed 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 < launch ed into an impromptu speech ― Tim Tucker>
2 a archaic : to slide down the ways b : to make a start