Meaning & use
launchpad
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A platform from which a rocket or spacecraft leaves the ground.
Grammar: Countable: you can say a launchpad or the launchpads.
Patterns
- on the launchpad
- from the launchpad
The rocket sat on the launchpad for two hours before liftoff.
Engineers inspected the launchpad after the storm.
A small fire broke out near the launchpad but was quickly put out.
nouncountablefigurative
A place or event that helps something new to begin or become successful.
Grammar: Often used figuratively with for: a launchpad for someone's career.
Patterns
- a launchpad for something
- serve as a launchpad for someone
The small theater was a launchpad for many famous actors.
Winning that competition became the launchpad for her music career.
The city hopes the new airport will be a launchpad for local business.
nouncountablecomputing
A set of icons or a screen from which you open apps on a device.
Grammar: Often written as one word, launchpad, in software names.
Patterns
- open the launchpad
- on the launchpad
Click the launchpad icon to see all your apps.
You can rearrange the icons on the launchpad.
The launchpad makes it easy to find programs quickly.
Word forms
| plural | launchpads |
|---|
Common combinations
- on the launchpad
- The crew waited on the launchpad while the countdown continued.
- a launchpad for something
- The internship acted as a launchpad for his career in finance.
- rocket launchpad
- The rocket launchpad is closed for repairs.
- launchpad icon
- Tap the launchpad icon at the bottom of the screen.
Synonyms and how they differ
- platform
- Platform is a general word for a raised surface; launchpad specifically means one used for launching rockets or, figuratively, starting something.
- springboard
- Springboard is a close synonym for the figurative sense, suggesting a strong push forward; launchpad often suggests a starting point rather than a push.
Word family
Commonly confused: launchpad or landing pad?
launchpad vs landing pad
A landing pad is where a spacecraft or helicopter comes down, not where it takes off.
Practice
The young athlete used the local club as a ______ for her international career.
Choose one answer.
Launchpad fits the figurative sense of a starting point that helps something grow. Landing pad is for coming down, runway is for aircraft, and platform is too general here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “launchpad”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.