launch pad
Americannoun
-
the platform on which a missile or launch vehicle undergoes final prelaunch checkout and countdown and from which it is launched from the surface of the earth.
-
something that serves to launch or initiate.
He used his legal experience as a launch pad for his career in politics.
noun
-
a platform from which a spacecraft, rocket, etc, is launched
-
an effective starting point for a career, enterprise, or campaign
Etymology
Origin of launch pad
First recorded in 1955–60
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
After launching the spacecraft, the booster detached and began its descent, returning to the SpaceX launch pad where a pair of "chopsticks" reached out to catch the booster and bring it to a halt.
From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026
On May 28, a fiery mushroom cloud enveloped Cape Canaveral as New Glenn’s engine malfunctioned during a pre-flight test, blowing up the rocket, launch pad and other nearby infrastructure.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026
But the biggest set back was on 28 May 2026, when Blue Origin's only launch pad at Cape Canaveral was seriously damaged after a rocket exploded during an engine test.
From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026
After launch, engineers carried out a thorough review of the launch pad and mobile launcher systems.
From Science Daily • May 4, 2026
Gagarin rode an elevator 150 feet up to the top of the launch pad.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
