[take.off] n (1846) 1: an imitation esp. in the way of caricature
2. a: a spot at which one takes off b: a starting point: point of departure 3 a: a rise or leap from a surface in making a jump or flight or an ascent in an aircraft or in the launching of a rocket b: an action of starting out c: a rapid rise in activity, growth, or popularity "an economic ~"
4: an action of removing something
5: a mechanism for transmission of the power of an engine or vehicle to operate some other mechanism