Standard Lemma guide

liftoff

noun · 4 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.

  • CMU ARPABET: L IH1 F T AO2 F Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The point in the launch of a rocket or an aircraft where it leaves contact with the ground.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: aerospace, business, engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

Examples

  • we have liftoff [in narration of launches]

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The point at which a person or animal leaves the ground, as for example when jumping.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

The point of launching into success or action.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

the initial ascent of a rocket from its launching pad

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: rise, rising, ascent, ascension

History

Etymology

Deverbal from lift off.

Across languages

Translations

13 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: излитане (izlitane) — the point in the launch of a rocket or an aircraft where it leaves contact with the ground
  • Finnish: irtoaminen — the point in the launch of a rocket or an aircraft where it leaves contact with the ground
  • French: décollage — the point in the launch of a rocket or an aircraft where it leaves contact with the ground
  • German: Start — the point in the launch of a rocket or an aircraft where it leaves contact with the ground
  • Italian: lancio — the point in the launch of a rocket or an aircraft where it leaves contact with the ground
  • Italian: partenza — the point in the launch of a rocket or an aircraft where it leaves contact with the ground
  • Polish: start — the point in the launch of a rocket or an aircraft where it leaves contact with the ground
  • Polish: wzlot — the point in the launch of a rocket or an aircraft where it leaves contact with the ground
  • Portuguese: descolagem — the point in the launch of a rocket or an aircraft where it leaves contact with the ground
  • Russian: взлёт (vzljot) — the point in the launch of a rocket or an aircraft where it leaves contact with the ground
  • Spanish: despegue — the point in the launch of a rocket or an aircraft where it leaves contact with the ground
  • Tagalog: paglumpat — the point in the launch of a rocket or an aircraft where it leaves contact with the ground
  • Turkish: kalkış — the point in the launch of a rocket or an aircraft where it leaves contact with the ground