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APG.American
Pronunciation Guide
HOW TO PRONOUNCE

launch

/lɔntʃ/

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American Pronunciation Guide · 1:05
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What does launch mean?

verb

  1. To throw (a projectile such as a lance, dart or ball); to hurl; to propel with force.
  2. To cause (a vessel) to move or slide from the land or a larger vessel into the water; to set afloat.
  3. To cause (a rocket, balloon, etc., or the payload thereof) to begin its flight upward from the ground.
More meanings (13)

verb

  1. To send out; to start (someone) on a mission or project; to give a start to (something); to put in operation
  2. To start (a program or feature); to execute or bring into operation.
  3. To release; to put onto the market for sale
  4. Of a ship, rocket, balloon, etc.: to depart on a voyage; to take off.
  5. To move with force and swiftness like a sliding from the stocks into the water; to plunge; to begin.
  6. To start to operate.
  7. (obsolete) To pierce with, or as with, a lance.

noun

  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.).
  3. An event held to celebrate the launch of a ship/vessel, project, a new book, etc.; a launch party.
  4. 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".
  5. A boat used to convey guests to and from a yacht.
  6. An open boat of any size powered by steam, petrol, electricity, etc.
Wiktionary contributors

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/lɔntʃ/

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

It was that of Inspector Ryman of the river police and their launch was within biscuit-throw of that upon which we lay!
Sax RohmerThe Insidious Dr. Fu ManchuProject Gutenberg ebook #173
If it can get above the dirigible the adroplane may bring about the dirigible's destruction by the successful launch of a bomb.
Frederick Arthur Ambrose TalbotAeroplanes and Dirigibles of WarProject Gutenberg ebook #793
More book examples (3)
On arrival at the anchorage, the launch was noticeably settling down, as water had entered at several seams which had been started.
Douglas, Sir MawsonThe Home of the Blizzard Being the Story of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914Project Gutenberg ebook #6137
At the interview, when she offered him tea, he made it a point to launch a cautious inquiry if she knew Mr. Farfrae.
Thomas HardyThe Mayor of CasterbridgeProject Gutenberg ebook #143
At a word of command from Montgomery, the four men in the launch sprang up, and with singularly awkward gestures struck the lugs.
H. G. (Herbert George) WellsThe island of Doctor MoreauProject Gutenberg ebook #159