launch

noun

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.

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.)

(nautical) 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".

(nautical) A boat used to convey guests to and from a yacht.

(nautical) An open boat of any size powered by steam, petrol, electricity, etc.

verb

(transitive) To send out; to start (someone) on a mission or project; to give a start to (something); to put in operation

(transitive) To release; to put onto the market for sale

(transitive) To cause (a rocket, balloon, etc., or the payload thereof) to begin its flight upward from the ground.

(transitive, computing) To start (a program or feature); to execute or bring into operation.

(transitive) To throw (a projectile such as a lance, dart or ball); to hurl; to propel with force.

(transitive) To cause (a vessel) to move or slide from the land or a larger vessel into the water; to set afloat.

(intransitive) Of a ship, rocket, balloon, etc.: to depart on a voyage; to take off.

(intransitive, often with out) To move with force and swiftness like a sliding from the stocks into the water; to plunge; to begin.

(intransitive, computing, of a program) To start to operate.

(transitive, obsolete) To pierce with, or as with, a lance.

Roots

lancearelaunch- · Late Latin · to hurl, throw a lance

Synonyms for launch

inauguratev establishv initiatev commencev startv catapultv embarkv inaugurationn beginv initiationn

Synonyms & related words for launch

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of launch — including inaugurate, establish, initiate, commence, start, catapult. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to launch

Explore words related to launch — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include prelaunch, relaunch, blastoff, liftoff, launchpad, unveiling, plunge, rockets. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for launch

Common synonyms for launch include inaugurate, establish, initiate, commence, start, catapult, embark, inauguration — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does launch come from?

The word launch breaks down into one root of Late Latin origin: the root launch, from Late Latin lanceare (“to hurl, throw a lance”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.