Launch (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Launched (?); 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 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.
© Webster 1913.
Launch, 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 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.
© Webster 1913.
Launch, n. 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.
Launching ways. Naut. See Way, n. Naut..
© Webster 1913. | 
