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 verb 1 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 verb 1 a : to spring forward : take off b : to enter energetically <launched into an impromptu speech — Timothy Tucker>
2 a archaic : to slide down the ways b : to make a start