launch

B1 Topic:Astronomy & Space

US /lɑːnt͡ʃ/ UK /lɔːnt͡ʃ/ See IPA manual

Freq #2986

Meanings

1

verb
To start something new, such as a product, project, or campaign.

The company plans to launch its new phone next month.
2

verb
To send a rocket, spacecraft, or missile up into the air.

They will launch the satellite from a base in Florida.
3

verb
To put a boat or ship into the water for the first time.

The shipyard launched the new ferry into the harbour.
4

verb
To throw or hurl something with great force.

The soldiers launched a volley of stones over the wall.
5

verb
To begin doing something energetically and without delay.

He launched into a long speech the moment he sat down.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

4 verb · to throw or hurl something... cast fling heave hurl

5 verb · to begin doing something... plunge

Word family

Forms launchedlauncheslaunching

Derived forms air-launchautolaunchhard-launchlaunchablelauncheelauncherlaunchfullaunchinglaunchwaymislaunchoutlaunchoverlaunch

Related forms barge boat yacht

Appears in

Phrases (3)

See all

Etymology

From Middle English launchen (“to throw as a lance”), Old French lanchier, another form (Old Northern French/Norman variant, compare Jèrriais lanchi) of lancier, French lancer, from lance.

launchen Middle English lanchier Old French

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Astronomy & Space Actions & Processes

External links

# launch

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /lɑːnt͡ʃ/
**IPA (UK):** /lɔːnt͡ʃ/
**Frequency rank:** 2986

## Meanings
1. To start something new, such as a product, project, or campaign.
2. To send a rocket, spacecraft, or missile up into the air.
3. To put a boat or ship into the water for the first time.
4. To throw or hurl something with great force.
5. To begin doing something energetically and without delay.

## Examples
- The company plans to launch its new phone next month.
- They will launch the satellite from a base in Florida.
- The shipyard launched the new ferry into the harbour.
- The soldiers launched a volley of stones over the wall.
- He launched into a long speech the moment he sat down.

## Derived Forms
- air-launch
- autolaunch
- hard-launch
- launchable
- launchee
- launcher
- launchful
- launching
- launchway
- mislaunch
- outlaunch
- overlaunch

## Related Forms
- barge
- boat
- yacht

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: launchen
- Root: lanchier

## Etymology
From Middle English launchen (“to throw as a lance”), Old French lanchier, another form (Old Northern French/Norman variant, compare Jèrriais lanchi) of lancier, French lancer, from lance.

## AI Etymology
Launch comes from Middle English launchen (“to throw as a lance”), Old French lanchier, another form (Old Northern French/Norman variant, compare Jèrriais lanchi) of lancier, French lancer, from lance.

## Topics
- Astronomy & Space
- Actions & Processes

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