Meaning

• 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.)

• The act or fact of launching (a ship/vessel, a project, a new book, etc.).

• An event held to celebrate the launch of a ship/vessel, project, a new book, etc.; a launch party.

  "book launch"

Meaning

• To throw (a projectile such as a lance, dart or ball); to hurl; to propel with force.

• To pierce with, or as with, a lance.

• To cause (a vessel) to move or slide from the land or a larger vessel into the water; to set afloat.

  "The navy launched another ship."

• To cause (a rocket, balloon, etc., or the payload thereof) to begin its flight upward from the ground.

  "NASA launched several unmanned rockets before launching any of the Mercury astronauts."

• To send out; to start (someone) on a mission or project; to give a start to (something); to put in operation

  "Our business launched a new project."

• To start (a program or feature); to execute or bring into operation.

  "Double-click an icon to launch the associated application."

• To release; to put onto the market for sale

• Of a ship, rocket, balloon, etc.: to depart on a voyage; to take off.

• (often with out) To move with force and swiftness like a sliding from the stocks into the water; to plunge; to begin.

  "to launch into an argument or discussion"

• (of a program) To start to operate.

  "After clicking the icon, the application will launch."