Main Entry:

¹launch

Pronunciation:

\ˈlȯnch, ˈlänch\

Function:

verb

Etymology:

Middle English, from Anglo-French *lancher, lancer, from Late Latin lanceare to wield a lance — more at lance

Date:

14th century

transitive verb1 a: to throw forward : hurl b: to release, catapult, or send off (a self-propelled object) <launch a rocket>2 a: to set (a boat or ship) afloat b: to give (a person) a start <launched her on a new career> c (1): to put into operation or set in motion : initiate, introduce (2): to get off to a good start d: to load into a computer's memory and run <launch a program>intransitive verb1 a: to spring forward : take off b: to enter energetically <launched into an impromptu speech — Timothy Tucker>2 aarchaic : to slide down the ways b: to make a start