noun.
A sudden leap; a skip.
noun.
The sliding or movement of a boat or vessel from the land into the water; more particularly, the sliding of a newly built ship from the stocks into the water, on ways prepared for the purpose.
noun.
A large boat; specifically, the largest boat carried by a man-of-war, generally sloop-rigged and pulling from sixteen to twenty-two oars. A howitzer can be carried in the bow or the stern.
noun.
A lancing.
noun.
A trap used for taking eels, etc.
To throw or hurl, as a lance; dart; let fly.
To pierce or cut with or as with a lance or lancet; lance.
To move or cause to slide from the land into the water: as, to launch a ship.
To send out into another sphere of duty, another field of activity, or the like: as, to launch one on the world.
Naut.:
To lower suddenly on the fid (a topmast or topgallantmast which has been swayed up).
To move (heavy bodies, as casks, spars, etc.) by pushing.
To lay out or plant, as leeks, in trenches.
To leap; skip.
To move a ship from the land into the water.
To move or come into new relations; enter upon a different course or career; make a transition: as, to launch into the world, or into a wide field of discussion: often with out: as, to launch out into extravagant expenditure.