launch vehicle

noun

: a rocket used to launch a satellite or spacecraft

Examples of launch vehicle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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One indication of the logic of the approach is that other nuclear powers, including China, India, and Russia, have replicated the structure, fielding nuclear weapons in some combination of submarines, bombers, and road- or rail-based mobile launch vehicles. Andrew S. Lim, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025 The rocket's conical stage adapter, which connects the SLS core booster to the launch vehicle's upper stages, was added to the stack on Saturday (April 12), according to NASA. Josh Dinner, Space.com, 16 Apr. 2025 The women are also now among 52 others who have previously boarded Blue Origin's New Shepard launch vehicle to head more than 60 miles high for a few minutes of weightlessness and spectacular views of Earth. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025 The conventional wisdom is that the small launch vehicle business isn't a big moneymaker. ArsTechnica, 11 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for launch vehicle

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1960, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of launch vehicle was circa 1960

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Cite this Entry

“Launch vehicle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/launch%20vehicle. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.

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