LIFTOFF Definition & Meaning

View synonyms for

liftoff

or lift-off

[ lift-awf, -of ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Aeronautics, Rocketry.
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.
Informal. the launching or commencement of a project, plan, etc.:
The liftoff of the sales campaign will be next month.

adjective

able to be shifted or removed by lifting off; capable of being lifted off:
I organized the workshop with these liftoff adhesive labels for bins and shelves.
We used magnetic liftoff nameplates on the lockers.

liftoff

/ ˈ��ɪ�ڳ�ˌɒ�� /

noun

the initial movement or ascent of a rocket from its launch pad
the instant at which this occurs

verb

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

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of liftoff¹

First recorded in 1955–60; noun and adjective use of verb phrase lift off

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Losing time sounds like it should slot neatly into a ticking-clock suspense film, but it never achieves liftoff the way “Memento” turned an amnesiac’s daily struggle into catnip.

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In a Falcon 9 rocket, the first stage separates from the second stage about 2 minutes and 30 seconds after liftoff.

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But the weight of expectations is a heavy thing to bear and they bog down this capable movie version on its way to liftoff.

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The initial burn lasted until eight minutes after liftoff.

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It arced over the Gulf of Mexico like the four Starships before it that ended up being destroyed, either soon after liftoff or while ditching into the sea.

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