I. ˈlȯnch, -ä-, -ȧ-, dial -a-, -aa(ə)-, -ai- verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: Middle English launchen, from Old North French lancher, from Late Latin lanceare to handle a lance, pierce with a lance — more at lance
transitive verb
1.
a. : to dart or throw forward
launched a looping right to the jaw
suddenly launched himself from between his guards … and vanished into the rocks and heather, still handcuffed — Philip Rooney
b. : to throw or propel with force : fling , shoot
finding another stone, I raised and was about to launch it — W.H.Hudson †1922
launch an arrow at a target
specifically : to release or catapult (a self-propelling object) from a ramp, rack, or other device
launch a torpedo
launch a carrier plane
launch a rocket
launch a satellite
c. : commence
launch a hostile action
: commit (as troops) to battle
launched his cavalry against them — Tom Wintringham
d. : to direct (as abuse or criticism) against
launched a determined attack on academic criticism — C.I.Glicksberg
launched a fresh anathema against him — R.W.Southern
launched a … protest against the political power of the well-to-do — J.D.Hicks
2. obsolete : lance 1, 2
3.
a. : to put or cause to slide into the water : set afloat
launch a canoe
launch a battleship
launch a lifeboat
b.
(1) : to give (a person) a start
launch a daughter in society
launch a son in business
launched their peoples on the path of war and conquest — Sir Winston Churchill
(2) : embark
she launched herself on her nursing career
his massive task begins and he launches himself upon it — Ira Wolfert
he was now well launched on a speech of his own — Waldo Frank
pipeline companies now are launched on a … construction and expansion program — Trends
c.
(1) : to originate or set in motion : put into operation : initiate , introduce
launch an enterprise
launch a program
launch a fund drive
launch a new product
(2) : to get off to a good start : gain public acceptance for
a literary dinner to launch the book — Newsweek
d. : to cast forth or send out
launched himself upon the intellectual currents of the age — H.O.Taylor
launch a first-class minstrel company on the road — C.F.Wittke
a young pair launched their first invitations in the third person — Edith Wharton
4. obsolete : to hoist (as a yard) or push out (as capstan bars) — used of equipment on sailing ships
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to spring forward : take off
a junco had launched off a chinquapin twig — W.V.T.Clark
the catapult snagged and the plane overturned before it could launch
b.
(1) : to throw oneself energetically : plunge
launch into a brilliant harangue
launched into a vigorously rhythmic, sharply accentuated playing of the … prelude — Irving Kolodin
(2) : to speak out critically : lash
listened … politely for ten minutes and then launched out — H.J.Laski
2.
a. archaic : to slide down the ways : become launched
the Resolution now in the dock launches on Tuesday — London Gazette
b. : to set out : go
one of the party … had launched off by himself — Appalachia
c. : to make a start : commence
had launched on his hour of study — Hallam Tennyson
launch upon the production of films — Jean Begeman
specifically : to go into business
II. noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English launche, from launchen, v.
: launching
may hold up a launch for days — H.H.Martin
after launch it could shift targets — Clay Blair
III. noun
( -es )
Etymology: Spanish or Portuguese; Spanish lancha, from Portuguese, from Malay lancharan, from lanchar effortless speed
1. archaic : a large often sloop-rigged ship's boat of relatively shallow draft designed to carry men and stores and often fitted with a light gun in the bow
2. : a small open or half-decked motorboat used commercially or as a pleasure craft in harbors and coastal waters