Definition of "launch" in English

verb

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

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

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

   • 1725–1726, Alexander Pope, Homer's Odyssey (translation), Book V With stays and cordage last he rigged the ship, / And rolled on levers, launched her in the deep.
   • The navy launched another ship.

4. (transitive) 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.

5. (transitive) 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.

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

   • Double-click an icon to launch the associated application.

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

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

9. (intransitive, often with out) To 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

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

    • After clicking the icon, the application will launch.

noun

1. 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.)

2. The act or fact of launching (a ship/vessel, a project, a new book, etc.).

3. An event held to celebrate the launch of a ship/vessel, project, a new book, etc.; a launch party.

   • product launch
   • book launch

noun

1. (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".

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

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