launch

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

There they were met by four thousand Ha'apa'a warriors, who launched a volley of stones and spears[…]

To pierce with, or as with, a lance.

And launch your hearts with lamentable wounds.

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

Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

1725–1726, Alexander Pope, Homer's Odyssey (translation), Book V With stays and cordage last he rigged the ship, / And rolled on levers, launched her in the deep.

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

A cheap rocket that could launch military reconnaisance satellites for developing countries has become involved in a tangled web of Nazi rocket scientists, Penthouse magazine, KGB disinformation, and a treaty reminiscent of the height of colonialism in Africa.

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.

All art is uſed to ſink Epiſcopacy, & lanch Presbytery in England.

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.).

Dotcom mania was slow in coming to higher education, but now it has the venerable industry firmly in its grip. Since the launch early last year of Udacity and Coursera, two Silicon Valley start-ups offering free education through MOOCs, massive open online courses, the ivory towers of academia have been shaken to their foundations.

The initial awards will give $316 million to SpaceX for one launch and $337 million to ULA for two launches. […] Military officials did not say exactly how many launches that might enetail^([sic]), nor did they provide a total contract value.

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

product launch

book launch

The boat of the largest size and/or of most importance belonging to a ship of war, and often called the "captain's boat" or "captain's launch".

A boat used to convey guests to and from a yacht.

An open boat of any size powered by steam, petrol, electricity, etc.