Launch

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

Launch, v. i. [OE. launchen to throw as a lance, OF. lanchier, another form of lancier, F. lancer, fr. lance lance. See Lance.].

•  To throw, as a lance or dart; to hurl; to let fly.  [1913 Webster]
•  To strike with, or as with, a lance; to pierce.  [1913 Webster]

  "Launch your hearts with lamentable wounds."  [1913 Webster]
•  To cause to move or slide from the land into the water; to set afloat; as, to launch a ship.  [1913 Webster]

  "With stays and cordage last he rigged the ship,
  And rolled on levers, launched her in the deep."  [1913 Webster]
•  To send out; to start (one) on a career; to set going; to give a start to (something); to put in operation; as, to launch a son in the world; to launch a business project or enterprise.  [1913 Webster]

  "All art is used to sink episcopacy, and launch presbytery in England."  [1913 Webster]

Launch, v. i. 

 To move with force and swiftness like a sliding from the stocks into the water; to plunge; to make a beginning; as, to launch into the current of a stream; to launch into an argument or discussion; to launch into lavish expenditures; -- often with out.  [1913 Webster]
"Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught."  [1913 Webster]
"He [Spenser] launches out into very flowery paths."  [1913 Webster]

Launch, n. 

•  The act of launching.  [1913 Webster]
•  The movement of a vessel from land into the water; especially, the sliding on ways from the stocks on which it is built.  [1913 Webster]
•  The boat of the largest size belonging to a ship of war; also, an open boat of any size driven by steam, naphtha, electricity, or the like.  [1913 Webster]

Launching ways. (Naut.) See Way, n. (Naut.).

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Launch, v. & n.
--v.
1 tr. set (a vessel) afloat.
2 tr. hurl or send forth (a weapon, rocket, etc.).
3 tr. start or set in motion (an enterprise, a person on a course of action, etc.).
4 tr. formally introduce (a new product) with publicity etc.
5 intr. (often foll. by out, into, etc.) a make a start, esp. on an ambitious enterprise. b burst into strong language etc.
--n. the act or an instance of launching.

Idiom

launch (or launching) pad a platform with a supporting structure, from which rockets are launched.

Launch, n.
1 a large motor boat, used esp. for pleasure.
2 a man-of-war's largest boat.

Etymology

Sp. lancha pinnace perh. f. Malay lancharan f. lanchar swift

THESAURUS

Launch

advance, altitude peak, automatic control, begin, blast off, blast-off, boat, bowl, bring before, bring forward, bring up, broach, bundle, bundle off, bung, burn, burnout, cabin cruiser, cast, catapult, ceiling, christen, chuck, chunk, commence, commend to attention, cruiser, dart, dash, descent, dinghy, discharge, dispatch, embark, embark on, embark upon, end of burning, establish, fire, flight, fling, flip, float, fork, found, get, get going, gig, give a start, heave, hurl, hurtle, ignition, impact, inaugurate, inauguration, induct, initiate, initiation, install, institute, introduce, jerk, kick off, lance, lay before, let fly, lift up, lift-off, lob, make a motion, moot, motor launch, motorboat, move, offer a resolution, open, open up, opening, organize, originate, pass, peg, pelt, pitch, pitchfork, pose, postulate, power cruiser, powerboat, prefer, project, propose, proposition, propound, put, put forth, put forward, put in motion, put it to, put the shot, raise, recommend, ring in, rocket launching, runabout, sedan cruiser, send, send forth, send off, serve, set afloat, set agoing, set before, set forth, set going, set in motion, set on foot, set up, shoot, shot, shy, skiff, sling, snap, speedboat, start, start going, start off, start up, steam launch, submit, suggest, tender, throw, tilt, toss, trajectory, turn on, usher in, velocity peak

ROGET THESAURUS

Launch

Beginning

VB begin, start, commence, conceive, open, dawn, set in, take its rise, enter upon, enter, set out, embark in, incept, initiate, launch, inaugurate, inchoate, rise, arise, originate, usher in, lead off, lead the way, take the lead, take the initiative, head, stand at the head, stand first, stand for, lay the foundations, found, set up, set on foot, agoing, set abroach, set the ball in motion, apply the match to a train, broach, open up, open the door to, get underway, set about, get to work, set to work, set to, make a beginning, make a start, handsel, take the first step, lay the first stone, cut the first turf, break ground, break the ice, break cover, pass the Rubicon, cross the Rubicon, open fire, open the ball, ventilate, air, undertake, come into existence, come into the world, make one's debut, take birth, burst forth, break out, spring up, spring forth, crop up, pop up, appear, materialize, begin at the beginning, begin ab ovo, begin again, begin de novo, start afresh, make a fresh start, take it from the top, shuffle the cards, reshuffle the cards, resume, recommence.

Ship

N ship, vessel, sail, craft, bottom, navy, marine, fleet, flotilla, shipping, man of war, transport, tender, storeship, merchant ship, merchantman, packet, liner, whaler, slaver, collier, coaster, lighter, fishing boat, pilot boat, trawler, hulk, yacht, baggala, floating hotel, floating palace, ocean greyhound, ship, bark, barque, brig, snow, hermaphrodite brig, brigantine, barkantine, schooner, topsail schooner, for and aft schooner, three masted schooner, chasse-maree, sloop, cutter, corvette, clipper, foist, yawl, dandy, ketch, smack, lugger, barge, hoy, cat, buss, sailer, sailing vessel, windjammer, steamer, steamboat, steamship, liner, ocean liner, cruiseship, ship of the line, mail steamer, paddle steamer, screw steamer, tug, line of steamers, destroyer, cruiser, frigate, landing ship, LST, aircraft carrier, carrier, flattop, nuclear powered carrier, submarine, submersible, atomic submarine, boat, pinnace, launch, life boat, long boat, jolly boat, bum boat, fly boat, cock boat, ferry boat, canal boat, swamp boat, ark, bully, battery, bateau, broadhorn, dory, droger, drogher, dugout, durham boat, flatboat, galiot, shallop, gig, funny, skiff, dingy, scow, cockleshell, wherry, coble, punt, cog, kedge, lerret, eight oar, four oar, pair oar, randan, outrigger, float, raft, pontoon, prame, iceboat, ice canoe, ice yacht, catamaran, hydroplane, hovercraft, coracle, gondola, carvel, caravel, felucca, caique, canoe, birch bark canoe, dugout canoe, galley, galleyfoist, bilander, dogger, hooker, howker, argosy, carack, galliass, galleon, polacca, polacre, tartane, junk, lorcha, praam, proa, prahu, saick, sampan, xebec, dhow, dahabeah, nuggah, kayak, keel boat, log canoe, pirogue, quadrireme, trireme, stern-wheeler, wanigan, wangan, wharf boat, balloon, airship, aeroplane, biplane, monoplane, triplane, hydroplane, aerodrome, air balloon, pilot balloon, fire balloon, dirigible, zeppelin, aerostat, Montgolfier, kite, parachute, jet plane, rocket plane, jet liner, turbojet, prop-jet, propeller plane, corporate plane, corporate jet, private plane, private aviation, airline, common carrier, fighter, bomber, fighter-bomber, escort plane, spy plane, supersonic aircraft, subsonic aircraft, afloat, aboard, on board, on ship board, hard a lee, hard a port, hard a starboard, hard a weather.

Propulsion

N propulsion, projection, propelment, vis a tergo, force from behind, push, shove, ejaculate, ejection, throw, fling, toss, shot, discharge, shy, launch, release, projectiles, ballistics, archery, propeller, screw, twin screws, turbine, jet engine, missile, projectile, ball, discus, quoit, brickbat, shot, arrow, gun, ballista, countdown, windup, shooter, shot, archer, toxophilite, bowman, rifleman, marksman, good shot, crack shot, sharpshooter, propelled, propelling, propulsive, projectile.

VB propel, project, throw, fling, cast, pitch, chuck, toss, jerk, heave, shy, hurl, flirt, fillip, dart, lance, tilt, ejaculate, jaculate, fulminate, bolt, drive, sling, pitchfork, send, send off, let off, fire off, discharge, shoot, launch, release, send forth, let fly, put in orbit, send into orbit, launch into orbit dash, put in motion, set in motion, set agoing, start, give a start, give an impulse to, impel, trundle, expel, carry one off one's legs, put to flight.