Launch — Defs

01 v. i. To throw, as a lance or dart; to hurl; to let fly.

imp. & p. p. Launched; p. pr. & vb. n. Launching

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 ship.
“With stays and cordage last he rigged the ship, 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.

02 v. i. To move with force and swiftness like a sliding from the stocks into the water; to plunge; to make a beginning; as, to launch into the curr…

1.
To move with force and swiftness like a sliding from the stocks into the water; to plunge; to make a beginning; as, to launch into the current of a stream; to launch into an argument or discussion; to launch into lavish expenditures; -- often with out.
“Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.” — Luke v. 4.

“He [Spenser] launches out into very flowery paths.” — Prior.

03 n. The act of launching.

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.
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.(Naut.)

Phrases & compounds

Launching ways — See Way, n. (Naut.).