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.
To throw (a projectile such as a lance, dart or ball); to hurl; to propel with force.
There they were met by four thousand Ha'apa'a warriors, who launched a volley of stones and spears[…]2011, Stephen Budiansky, Perilous Fight: America's Intrepid War with Britain on the High Seas, 1812-1815, page 323:
And launch your hearts with lamentable wounds.1591, Edmund Spenser, The Teares of the Muses:
3
To cause (a vessel) to move or slide from the land or a larger vessel into the water; to set afloat.
Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke 5:4:
1725–1726, Alexander Pope, Homer's Odyssey (translation), Book V With stays and cordage last he rigged the ship, / And rolled on levers, launched her in the deep.
1 more example
The navy launched another ship.
4
To cause (a rocket, balloon, etc., or the payload thereof) to begin its flight upward from the ground.
A cheap rocket that could launch military reconnaisance satellites for developing countries has become involved in a tangled web of Nazi rocket scientists, Penthouse magazine, KGB disinformation, and a treaty reminiscent of the height of colonialism in Africa.1978, Farooq Hussain, “Volksraketen for the Third World”, in New Scientist:
NASA launched several unmanned rockets before launching any of the Mercury astronauts.
5
To send out; to start (someone) on a mission or project; to give a start to (something); to put in operation
Our business launched a new project.
All art is uſed to ſink Epiſcopacy, & lanch Presbytery in England.1649, Eikon Basilike:
4 more examples
Here was my chance. I took the old man aside, and two or three glasses of Old Crow launched him into reminiscence.1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter II, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
“[…] They talk of you as if you were Croesus—and I expect the beggars sponge on you unconscionably.” And Vickers launched forth into a tirade very different from his platform utterances. He spoke with extreme contempt of the dense stupidity exhibited on all occasions by the working classes.1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XIII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
I have ordered House Atreides to occupy Arrakis to mine the spice, thus replacing their enemies the Harkonnens. House Atreides will not refuse because of the tremendous power they think they will gain. Then, at an appointed time, Baron Harkonnen will return to Arrakis and launch a sneak attack on House Atreides. I have promised the Baron five legions of my Sardaukar terror troops.1984, 8:38 from the start, in Dune (Science Fiction), →OCLC:
In mid-December 1944, the Germans launched a massive assault in what became known as the Battle of the Bulge.2026 June 28, Jeff Minick, “A Spoonful of Smiles Helps the History Go Down: Famous Quotes From America’s Past”, in The Epoch Times, archived from the original on 28 Jun 2026, American Essence:
6
Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Sciences To start (a program or feature); to execute or bring into operation.
Double-click an icon to launch the associated application.
If the game does not automatically launch, select Disney Cory in the House from the DS launch screen.2008, “Getting Started”, in Cory in the House: Instruction Booklet, Burbank, California: Disney Interactive Studios; Nintendo, page 4:
7
To release; to put onto the market for sale
On September 3rd Bionym, a Canadian firm, launched Nymi, a bracelet which detects the wearer’s heartbeat.2013 September 7, “Kill or cure”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8852:
8
Of a ship, rocket, balloon, etc.: to depart on a voyage; to take off.
9
Often, With out To move with force and swiftness like a sliding from the stocks into the water; to plunge; to begin.
In our language, Spenſer has not contented himſelf with this ſubmiſſive manner of imitation : he launches out into very flowery paths[…]1718, Matthew Prior, Solomon: On the Vanity of the World, Preface:
My class was wearing butter-yellow pique dresses, and Momma launched out on mine. She smocked the yoke into tiny crisscrossing puckers, then shirred the rest of the bodice.1969, Maya Angelou, chapter 23, in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings:
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.
1
The movement of a vessel from land into the water; especially, the sliding on ways from the stocks on which it is built. (Compare: to splash a ship.)
2
The act or fact of launching (a ship/vessel, a project, a new book, etc.).
Dotcom mania was slow in coming to higher education, but now it has the venerable industry firmly in its grip. Since the launch early last year of Udacity and Coursera, two Silicon Valley start-ups offering free education through MOOCs, massive open online courses, the ivory towers of academia have been shaken to their foundations.2013 July 20, “The attack of the MOOCs”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8845:
The initial awards will give $316 million to SpaceX for one launch and $337 million to ULA for two launches. […] Military officials did not say exactly how many launches that might enetail^([sic]), nor did they provide a total contract value.2020 August 7, Jackie Wattles, “SpaceX and ULA win military launch competition worth $653 million – and that’s just the start”, in CNN Business:
3
An event held to celebrate the launch of a ship/vessel, project, a new book, etc.; a launch party.
Etymology From Portuguese lancha (“barge, launch”), apparently from Malay lancar (“quick, agile”). Spelling influenced by the verb above.
1
Nautical, Transport The boat of the largest size and/or of most importance belonging to a ship of war, and often called the "captain's boat" or "captain's launch".
2
Nautical, Transport A boat used to convey guests to and from a yacht.
3
Nautical, Transport An open boat of any size powered by steam, petrol, electricity, etc.