{
    "term": "launch",
    "partOfSpeech": "verb",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "b2",
    "verbForms": {
        "presentSimple": {
            "iYouWeThey": "launch",
            "heSheIt": "launches"
        },
        "pastSimple": "launched",
        "pastParticiple": "launched",
        "ingForm": "launching"
    },
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to start an activity, especially an organized one",
            "sensetop": "launch something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The government recently **launched a** national road safety **campaign**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Police have **launched an investigation** into the incident."
                },
                {
                    "text": "to launch an appeal/initiative"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Government forces **launched an attack** against militants in the north of the country."
                },
                {
                    "text": "to launch an offensive/air strike"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The TV celebrities helped launch a campaign against child poverty."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The appeal was officially launched last month."
                },
                {
                    "text": "A German firm launched a takeover bid for the company."
                },
                {
                    "text": "A massive attack was launched in the spring of 1918."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Enemy troops launched an assault on the town."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Police have launched a murder enquiry."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The Duchess of Cornwall, president of the charity, will launch the appeal in London."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The authorities launched a massive security operation in the city."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The charity tonight launched its crusade against homelessness."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The company launched a huge advertising campaign."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The government has launched a new policy initiative."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The police immediately launched a nationwide search for the killer."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We're going to launch a big recruitment drive in the autumn."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to make a product or service available to the public for the first time; to become available for the first time",
            "sensetop": "launch (something)",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The company plans to **launch the service** to coincide with the World Cup this summer."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The updated website will be **officially launched** at the conference in April."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The new series launches in July."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a party to launch his latest novel"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The new model will be launched in July."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The book was launched amid a fanfare of publicity."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Business"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "to put a ship or boat into the water, especially one that has just been built",
            "sensetop": "launch something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The Navy is to launch a new warship today."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The lifeboat was launched immediately."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Transport by water"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "to send something such as a spacecraft, weapon, etc. into space, into the sky or through water",
            "sensetop": "launch something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "to launch a missile/rocket"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The satellite was successfully launched into orbit earlier this month."
                },
                {
                    "text": "to launch a communications satellite"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The ship was hit by three torpedoes launched from the enemy submarine."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Space"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "to criticize somebody/something or protest strongly",
            "sensetop": "launch something",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He **launched** a biting **attack** on the senior management."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Residents have launched a protest against the proposed development."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 6,
            "definition": "to jump forwards with a lot of force",
            "sensetop": "launch yourself + adv./prep.",
            "labels": "(figurative)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Without warning he launched himself at me."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She launched herself on the rock world with a brilliant album."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 7,
            "definition": "to start a computer program; (of a computer program) to start",
            "sensetop": "launch something",
            "labels": "(computing)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "You can launch programs and documents from your keyboard."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It’s not the fastest way to launch an application."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I was impressed with how fast the app launches."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/lɔːntʃ/",
                "audio": "la/launch/launch__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈlɔːntʃɪz/",
                "audio": "la/launch/launches__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/lɔːntʃt/",
                "audio": "la/launch/launched__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈlɔːntʃɪŋ/",
                "audio": "la/launch/launching__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/lɔːntʃ/",
                "audio": "la/launch/launch__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈlɔːntʃɪz/",
                "audio": "la/launch/launches__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/lɔːntʃt/",
                "audio": "la/launch/launched__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈlɔːntʃɪŋ/",
                "audio": "la/launch/launching__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "verb Middle English (in the sense ‘hurl a missile, discharge with force’): from Anglo-Norman French launcher, variant of Old French lancier, from Latin lancea (noun)."
}