liftoff
or lift-off
[lift-awf, -of]
- Aeronautics, Rocketry.
- the action of an aircraft in becoming airborne or of a rocket in rising from its launching site under its own power.
- the instant when such action occurs.
- Informal. the launching or commencement of a project, plan, etc.: The liftoff of the sales campaign will be next month.
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- that removes by lifting off; capable of being lifted off: a liftoff correction tape for typewriters; magnetized, liftoff nameplates.
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Origin of liftoff
First recorded in 1955–60; noun, adj. use of verb phrase lift off
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for liftoff
Contemporary Examples
She watched the liftoff from a boat floating down the Banana River near the launch site in Florida.
Moon Men: The Private Lives of Neil Armstrong and Pals in “Togethersville”Lily Koppel
September 1, 2012
They tell Sandra McElwaine about their orbital road trip ahead of Scott's liftoff this week.
liftoff
- the initial movement or ascent of a rocket from its launch pad
- the instant at which this occurs
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- (intr, adverb) (of a rocket) to leave its launch pad
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for liftoff
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper