Launch vs. Lunch — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 1, 2023
Launch signifies the initiation or introduction of something new, whereas lunch denotes a meal typically eaten in the middle of the day.
Difference Between Launch and Lunch
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Launch is an event or process that sets something into motion, often used in the context of introducing a new product or service to the market. Lunch refers to a meal typically eaten in the middle of the day, serving as a break from morning activities and a chance to refuel for the afternoon.
A launch can be a grand and orchestrated event, marking the debut of a project or a spacecraft's journey into space. Lunch, however, is a daily occurrence, a routine part of people's schedules where they pause to eat and relax.
Companies spend months planning a launch to ensure their product makes a significant impact. In contrast, lunch plans can be as simple as choosing where to eat or what to prepare, without the need for extensive preparation.
Launch is associated with beginnings and the excitement of potential success or discovery, often surrounded by anticipation and coverage. Lunch is an everyday affair, its importance lying in its contribution to nutrition and social interaction, rather than excitement.
A successful launch can boost a company's profile and sales, while a well-balanced lunch can improve an individual’s health and productivity for the rest of the day. Both are critical in their domains, one for economic growth, and the other for personal well-being.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
To initiate or begin something.
A meal eaten typically in the early afternoon.
Context
Business, technology, space exploration.
Daily life, nutrition, social interaction.
Frequency
Usually a singular event.
Occurs daily.
Planning Required
Extensive planning for successful execution.
Minimal to moderate planning.
Associated With
Beginnings, introductions, potential.
Routine, nourishment, break in the day.
Compare with Definitions
Launch
To introduce a new product or service
They plan to launch the software at the tech conference.
Lunch
A casual or light meal eaten at midday
I grabbed lunch from the corner deli.
Launch
To begin a venture or business
She decided to launch her own design studio.
Lunch
A break in work for eating around noon
Lunch break at the office is from 12 to 1.
Launch
Set (a boat) in motion by pushing it or allowing it to roll into the water
The town's lifeboat was launched to rescue the fishermen
Lunch
A formal meal in the middle of the day
They hosted a lunch for the visiting delegates.
Launch
Start or set in motion (an activity or enterprise)
The government is to launch a £1.25 million publicity campaign
Lunch
A social occasion featuring a midday meal
The club organized a lunch to welcome new members.
Launch
An act or instance of launching something
The launch of a new campaign against drinking and driving
Lunch
Lunch, an abbreviation for luncheon, is a meal eaten around midday. During the 20th century, the meaning gradually narrowed to a meal eaten midday.
Launch
A large motorboat, used especially for short trips
A police launch halted a small boat
She cruised the waterways on a luxury motor launch
Lunch
A meal eaten at midday.
Launch
To throw or propel with force; hurl
Launch a spear.
Lunch
The food provided for a midday meal.
Launch
To set or thrust (a self-propelled craft or projectile) in motion
Launch a rocket.
Launch a torpedo.
Lunch
To eat a midday meal.
Launch
(Nautical) To put (a boat) into the water in readiness for use.
Lunch
A light meal usually eaten around midday, notably when not as main meal of the day.
Launch
To set going; initiate
Launch a career.
Launch a business venture.
Lunch
(cricket) A break in play between the first and second sessions.
Launch
To introduce to the public or to a market
Launched the new perfume with prime-time commercials on the major networks.
Lunch
Any small meal, especially one eaten at a social gathering.
After the funeral there was a lunch for those who didn't go to the cemetery.
Launch
To give (someone) a start, as in a career or vocation.
Lunch
(intransitive) To eat lunch.
I like to lunch in Italian restaurants.
Launch
To begin a new venture or phase; embark
Launch forth on a dangerous mission.
Launched out on her own after college.
Lunch
(transitive) To treat to lunch.
Launch
To enter enthusiastically into something; plunge
Launched into a description of the movie.
Lunch
A luncheon; specifically, a light repast between breakfast and dinner, most commonly about noontime.
Launch
The act of launching.
Lunch
To take luncheon.
Launch
A large ship's boat.
Lunch
A midday meal
Launch
A large, open motorboat.
Lunch
Take the midday meal;
At what time are you lunching?
Launch
(transitive) To throw (a projectile such as a lance, dart or ball); to hurl; to propel with force.
Lunch
Provide a midday meal for;
She lunched us well
Launch
To pierce with, or as with, a lance.
Launch
(transitive) To cause (a vessel) to move or slide from the land or a larger vessel into the water; to set afloat.
The navy launched another ship.
Launch
(transitive) To cause (a rocket, balloon, etc., or the payload thereof) to begin its flight upward from the ground.
NASA launched several unmanned rockets before launching any of the Mercury astronauts.
Launch
(transitive) To send out; to start (someone) on a mission or project; to give a start to (something); to put in operation
Our business launched a new project.
Launch
To start (a program or feature); to execute or bring into operation.
Double-click an icon to launch the associated application.
Launch
(transitive) To release; to put onto the market for sale
Launch
(intransitive) Of a ship, rocket, balloon, etc.: to depart on a voyage; to take off.
Launch
To move with force and swiftness like a sliding from the stocks into the water; to plunge; to begin.
To launch into an argument or discussion
To launch into lavish expenditures
Launch
To start to operate.
After clicking the icon, the application will launch.
Launch
The movement of a vessel from land into the water; especially, the sliding on ways from the stocks on which it is built. (Compare: to splash a ship.)
Launch
The act or fact of launching (a ship/vessel, a project, a new book, etc.).
Launch
An event held to celebrate the launch of a ship/vessel, project, a new book, etc.; a launch party.
Product launch
Book launch
Launch
(nautical) The boat of the largest size and/or of most importance belonging to a ship of war, and often called the "captain's boat" or "captain's launch".
Launch
(nautical) A boat used to convey guests to and from a yacht.
Launch
(nautical) An open boat of any size powered by steam, petrol, electricity, etc.
Launch
To throw, as a lance or dart; to hurl; to let fly.
Launch
To strike with, or as with, a lance; to pierce.
Launch your hearts with lamentable wounds.
Launch
To cause to move or slide from the land into the water; to set afloat; as, to launch a ship.
With stays and cordage last he rigged the ship,And rolled on levers, launched her in the deep.
Launch
To send out; to start (one) on a career; to set going; to give a start to (something); to put in operation; as, to launch a son in the world; to launch a business project or enterprise.
All art is used to sink episcopacy, and launch presbytery in England.
Launch
To move with force and swiftness like a sliding from the stocks into the water; to plunge; to make a beginning; as, to launch into the current of a stream; to launch into an argument or discussion; to launch into lavish expenditures; - often with out.
Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
He [Spenser] launches out into very flowery paths.
Launch
The act of launching.
Launch
The movement of a vessel from land into the water; especially, the sliding on ways from the stocks on which it is built.
Launch
The boat of the largest size belonging to a ship of war; also, an open boat of any size driven by steam, naphtha, electricity, or the like.
Launch
A motorboat with an open deck or a half deck
Launch
The act of propelling with force
Launch
Set up or found;
She set up a literacy program
Launch
Propel with force;
Launch the space shuttle
Launch a ship
Launch
Launch for the first time; launch on a maiden voyage;
Launch a ship
Launch
Begin with vigor;
He launched into a long diatribe
She plunged into a dangerous adventure
Launch
Get going; give impetus to;
Launch a career
Her actions set in motion a complicated judicial process
Launch
Smoothen the surface of;
Float plaster
Launch
To set a boat or ship in motion
The navy will launch the new battleship next week.
Launch
To start or initiate an activity or campaign
The mayor will launch the clean-up campaign on Monday.
Launch
To propel something with force
The company will launch a satellite into orbit.
Common Curiosities
What is typically eaten for lunch?
Sandwiches, salads, and various hot or cold dishes.
Is lunch considered the most important meal?
It is important, but breakfast is often cited as the most important.
What does it mean to launch a product?
To introduce a new product to the market.
Can "launch" refer to a boat?
Yes, it can mean to set a boat into the water.
How do you plan a launch event?
By organizing venue, marketing, and presentation details.
Are there cultural differences in what people have for lunch?
Yes, lunch varies widely across different cultures.
Is it correct to say "let's have a working lunch"?
Yes, it means to eat while continuing to work or discuss business.
What’s a power lunch?
A lunch during which important business discussions or decisions are made.
Can launch be used figuratively?
Yes, it can mean starting new endeavors or initiatives.
What does "soft launch" mean?
It refers to a quiet, unofficial release of a product.
How long does a typical lunch break last?
It usually lasts about 30 minutes to an hour.
Can lunch be skipped?
It's not recommended, but some people do skip lunch.
Are launches only for physical products?
No, launches can be for services, events, or digital products too.
How does a product launch impact sales?
A successful launch can significantly boost initial sales.
Is brunch the same as lunch?
No, brunch is a combination of breakfast and lunch, usually eaten late in the morning.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.