Phrase guide

launch pad

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˈlɔːntʃ.pæd/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • US: /ˈlɑntʃ.pæd/
  • US: /ˈlɔntʃ.pæd/

1

noun

Meaning 1

The surface or structure from which a launch is made.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A starting point.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

a platform from which rockets or space craft are launched

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: launching pad, launchpad, launch area, pad

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: platform

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

46 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: plataforma de llançament — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Chinese Mandarin: 發射臺 /发射台 (fāshètái) — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Chinese Mandarin: 發射站 /发射站 (fāshèzhàn) — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Danish: affyringsrampe — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Danish: afskydningsrampe — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Finnish: laukaisualusta — the surface from which a launch is made
  • French: aire de lancement — the surface from which a launch is made
  • French: rampe de lancement — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Georgian: გამშვები ბაქანი (gamšvebi bakani) — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Georgian: სასტარტო მოედანი (sasṭarṭo moedani) — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Georgian: გამშვები პლატფორმა (gamšvebi ṗlaṭporma) — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Georgian: სასტარტო პლატფორმა (sasṭarṭo ṗlaṭporma) — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Georgian: გამშვები მოედანი (gamšvebi moedani) — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Georgian: სასტარტო ბაქანი (sasṭarṭo bakani) — the surface from which a launch is made
  • German: Startrampe — the surface from which a launch is made
  • German: Abschussrampe — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Hindi: प्रक्षेपण स्थल (prakṣepaṇ sthal) — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Hungarian: rakétaindító állvány — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Hungarian: indítóállvány — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Hungarian: indítóállás — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Hungarian: kilövőplatform — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Hungarian: kilövőállás — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Hungarian: rakétaindító — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Hungarian: rakétakilövő — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Indonesian: landasan peluncuran — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Irish: ceap lainseála — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Irish: ionad lainseála — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Italian: piattaforma di lancio — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Italian: rampa di lancio — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Japanese: 発射台 (hasshadai) — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Korean: 발사대 (balsadae) — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Polish: wyrzutnia rakietowa — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Romanian: rampă de lansare — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Russian: ста́ртовая площа́дка (stártovaja ploščádka) — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Russian: ста́ртовая платфо́рма (stártovaja platfórma) — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Russian: пусково́й стол (puskovój stol) — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Spanish: plataforma de lanzamiento — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Swedish: startramp — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Swedish: startplatta — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Tagalog: bunsuran — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Thai: แท่นปล่อยจรวด — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Thai: ฐานปล่อยจรวด — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Turkish: fırlatma rampası — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Ukrainian: ста́ртовий майда́нчик (stártovyj majdánčyk) — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Vietnamese: bệ phóng — the surface from which a launch is made
  • Welsh: safle lansio — the surface from which a launch is made