Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Launch
Launch
(la̤nch or länch)
, Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Launched
(la̤ncht or läncht)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Launching
.] [OE.
launchen
to throw as a lance, OF. lanchier
, another form of lancier
, F. lancer
, fr. lance
lance. See Lance
.] [Written also
lanch
.] 1.
To throw, as a lance or dart; to hurl; to let fly.
2.
To strike with, or as with, a lance; to pierce.
[Obs.]
Launch
your hearts with lamentable wounds. Spenser.
3.
To cause to move or slide from the land into the water; to set afloat;
as, to
. launch
a shipWith stays and cordage last he rigged the ship,
And rolled on levers,
And rolled on levers,
launched
her in the deep. Pope.
4.
To send out; to start (one) on a career; to set going; to give a start to (something); to put in operation;
as, to
launch
a son in the world; to launch
a business project or enterprise.All art is used to sink episcopacy, and
launch
presbytery in England. Eikon Basilike.
Launch
,Verb.
I.
To move with force and swiftness like a sliding from the stocks into the water; to plunge; to make a beginning;
as, to
; – often with out. launch
into the current of a stream; to launch
into an argument or discussion; to launch
into lavish expendituresLaunch
out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. Luke v. 4.
He [Spenser]
launches
out into very flowery paths. Prior.
Launch
,Noun.
1.
The act of launching.
2.
The movement of a vessel from land into the water; especially, the sliding on ways from the stocks on which it is built.
3.
[Cf. Sp.
lancha
.] (Naut.)
The boat of the largest size belonging to a ship of war; also, an open boat of any size driven by steam, naphtha, electricity, or the like.