to float (a newly constructed boat or ship) usually by allowing to slide down inclined ways into the water.
3.
to send forth, catapult, or release, as a self-propelled vehicle or weapon: Rockets were launched midway in the battle. The submarine launched its torpedoes and dived rapidly.
4.
to start (a person) on a course, career, etc.
5.
to set going; initiate: to launch a scheme.
6.
to throw; hurl: to launch a spear.
7.
to start (a new venture) or promote (a new product): They launched a new breakfast cereal.
8.
Computers. to start (a software program).
–verb (used without object)
9.
to burst out or plunge boldly or directly into action, speech, etc.
10.
to start out or forth; push out or put forth on the water.
–noun
11.
the act of launching.
Origin: 1300–50; late ME launche < AF lancher < LL lanceāre to wield a lance; see lance1
a heavy open or half-decked boat propelled by oars or by an engine.
2.
a large utility boat carried by a warship.
Origin: 1690–1700; < Sp, Pg lancha, earlier Pg lanchara, first attested in 1515 in an account of boats encountered near the Strait of Malacca; of unclear orig.; neither Malay lancar “swift” nor Rom outcomes of LL lanceāre (see launch1) are fully convincing as sources; mod. Malay lanca is < Pg
[lawnch, lahnch] 
