liftoff

Also found in: Thesaurus, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

lift·off

(lĭft′ôf′, -ŏf′)

The initial movement by which or the instant in which a rocket or other such craft commences flight.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

liftoff

(ˈlɪftˌɒf)

1. (Astronautics) the initial movement or ascent of a rocket from its launch pad

2. (Astronautics) the instant at which this occurs

(Astronautics) (intr, adverb) (of a rocket) to leave its launch pad

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

lift′off`

or lift′-off`,

1. the action of an aircraft in becoming airborne or of a rocket in rising from its launching site under its own power.

2. the instant when such action occurs.

[1955–60]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Noun

liftoff - the initial ascent of a rocket from its launching pad

rising, ascension, ascent, rise - a movement upward; "they cheered the rise of the hot-air balloon"

liftoff

noun

The act of rising in flight:

takeoff.

Mentioned in ?

References in periodicals archive ?

Arianespace has delivered another Ariane 5 to the launch zone at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana, positioning this workhorse vehicle for its August 6 liftoff with two telecommunications satellites: Intelsat 39 and EDRS-C.

Ariane 5 is in the launch zone for tomorrow's heavy-lift Arianespace mission

This latest, flashiest Dragon is on a fast track to reach the space station this morning, just 27 hours after liftoff.

SpaceX launch marks new chapter

Two days to liftoff! Confident and excited, the Watson siblings prepare to accompany their parents, who are in charge of a space mission to settle another planet.

Tyler, Bridget. The Pioneer

The launch of what would have been the nation's first space rocket developed entirely by a private company ended in failure on Saturday as start-up Interstellar Technologies Inc.'s Momo 2 rocket fell to the ground and exploded immediately after liftoff at the test site in the town of Taiki, Hokkaido.

No injuries reported after Japanese start-up's rocket explodes

A rocket developed by a Japanese startup company exploded seconds after liftoff Saturday in northern Japan, bursting into flames.

Rocket developed by Japanese startup explodes after liftoff

SpaceX deployed a broadband communications satellite for IntelSat, after twice ditching launch plans in the final seconds before liftoff. The satellite, known as IntelSat 35e, soared into the blue sky over Cape Canaveral at 7: 38 pm (2338 GMT), riding a Falcon 9 rocket to a distant, geostationary orbit.

SpaceX launches broadband satellite

But seven hours before the planned liftoff, NASA announced the flight was off until Monday night, AP reported.

Bad cable delays comeback rocket launch from Virginia

At liftoff, a single RS-68A engine ignited to boost the Delta IV rocket off the pad, providing 702,000 pounds of lift-off thrust.

Aerojet Rocketdyne supports launch of AFSPC-6 mission

Weighing in at a liftoff mass estimated at 6,100 kg, Arabsat-6B will provide telecommunications and TV broadcasting services for the Middle East and Africa.