takeoff

Or take-off

[teyk-awf, -of]

noun

1. a taking or setting off; the leaving of the ground, as in leaping or in beginning a flight in an airplane.

2. a taking off from a starting point, as in beginning a race.

3. the place or point at which a person or thing takes off.

4. a humorous or satirical imitation; burlesque.

5. Machinery.,  a shaft geared to a main shaft for running auxiliary machinery.

6. a branch connection to a pipe, electric line, etc.

Word History and Origins

Origin of takeoff¹

First recorded in 1820–30; noun use of verb phrase take off

Example Sentences

An analysis of the plane’s flight-data and cockpit-voice recorders was needed for investigators to determine why the engines appeared to lose thrust quickly after takeoff.

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Critics dispute air taxi company claims that their services could ease congestion as passengers will still have to take a car to and from the takeoff and landing points.

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Video footage of the plane’s takeoff showed the General Electric engine aflame before the jet crashed in an industrial area just beyond the runway at Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport.

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“Ready for takeoff,” he called to the ground.

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The first thing he saw was that departures to LaGuardia were delayed due to air-traffic-control staffing issues—and her 6:30 p.m. flight had been assigned a takeoff slot of 12:21 a.m.

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Related Words

• blastoff 
• departure 
• liftoff