Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Launch?

\Launch\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Launched}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Launching}.] [OE. launchen to throw as a lance, OF. lanchier, another form of lancier, F. lancer, fr. lance lance. See {Lance}.] [Written also {lanch}.] 1. To throw, as a lance or dart; to hurl; to let fly. 2. To strike with, or as with, a lance; to pierce. [Obs.] Launch your hearts with lamentable wounds. --Spenser. 3. To cause to move or slide from the land into the water; to set afloat; as, to launch a ship. With stays and cordage last he rigged the ship, And rolled on levers, launched her in the deep. --Pope. 4. 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. All art is used to sink episcopacy, and launch presbytery in England. --Eikon Basilike.
\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. Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. --Luke v. 4. He [Spenser] launches out into very flowery paths. --Prior.
\Launch\, n. 1. The act of launching. 2. The movement of a vessel from land into the water; especially, the sliding on ways from the stocks on which it is built. 3. [Cf. Sp. lancha.] (Naut.) 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. {Launching ways}. (Naut.) See {Way}, n. (Naut.).