launchv. i.[OE. launchen to throw as a lance, OF. lanchier, another form of lancier, F. lancer, fr. lance lance. See Lance.]1. To throw, as a lance or dart; to hurl; to let fly.()2. To strike with, or as with, a lance; to pierce.()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.)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.)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.()[Cf. Sp. lancha.]3. (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.).()