launcher

launch·er | \ ˈlȯn-chər

How to pronounce launcher (audio)

, ˈlän-\

Definition of launcher

: one that launches: such as

a : a device for firing grenades

b : a device for launching a missile

c : launch vehicle

Examples of launcher in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Satellite photos taken earlier this year showed DF-41 mobile launchers in the PLARF Jilintal training area in Inner Mongolia, according to the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), which monitors world nuclear arms developments. — Brad Lendon, CNN, "China's new firepower: What you might see in Beijing's National Day military parade," 27 Sep. 2019 The tests have showcased the North’s ability to consistently launch solid-fuel missiles that are easier to hide in the mountains, and which could be quickly deployed on mobile launchers and fired before the United States could respond. — David E. Sanger, New York Times, "North Korea Missile Tests, ‘Very Standard’ to Trump, Show Signs of Advancing Arsenal," 2 Sep. 2019 The fear of these weapons — which could be driven on a mobile launcher into a remote area, blasted off and strike their targets in a matter of minutes — caused widespread instability in Europe in the 1980s. — W.j. Hennigan, Time, "Pentagon Tests New Missile System, Weeks After a U.S.-Russia Nuclear Arms Treaty Collapsed," 21 Aug. 2019 To that end, NASA announced last week a $383 million cost-plus contract to build a second mobile launcher to be used for the Block 1B version of the Space Launch System rocket, which has a more powerful upper stage. — Eric Berger, Ars Technica, "Here’s a reality check on NASA’s Artemis Moon landing program," 3 July 2019 Russia then tested the same missile at ranges below 500km from a mobile launcher. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "Russia Defends New Cruise Missile, Says It Doesn't Violate Any Arms-Control Treaties," 24 Jan. 2019 The store manager told deputies that the grenade launcher had come in on Jan. 25 in a shipment from a store on Cortez Road. — Jessica De Leon, miamiherald, "Goodwill employees find loaded grenade launcher among donated items | Miami Herald," 31 Jan. 2018 Thus, there is currently no way to play GTA V without having Rockstar's new launcher active. — Sam Machkovech, Ars Technica, "Rockstar Games Launcher: We install it on Windows so you don’t have to [Updated]," 17 Sep. 2019 One of those is the Hydra-70 rocket, typically carried in an underwing cylindrical launcher with six or eighteen other rockets. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "Oops! An A-10 Warthog Accidentally Fired a Rocket During a Training Flight," 9 Sep. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'launcher.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

19 Nov 2019

Time Traveler for launcher

The first known use of launcher was in 1911

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