a taking or setting off; the leaving of the ground, as in leaping or in beginning a flight in an airplane.
2.
a taking off from a starting point, as in beginning a race.
3.
the place or point at which a person or thing takes off.
4.
a humorous or satirical imitation; burlesque.
5.
Machinery. a shaft geared to a main shaft for running auxiliary machinery.
6.
a branch connection to a pipe, electric line, etc.
Also, take-off.
Origin
1820-30; noun use of verb phrase take off
Examples from the web for takeoff
In one, for instance, the data showed that the pilot had trouble rotating the plane during takeoff.
The device had produced as much noise as a jet at takeoff.
Electric propellers used for an initial boost would fold into the plane after takeoff to reduce drag.
Dawn was making science fiction a reality even before takeoff.
If a horse falls or slips during takeoff or landing, it might injure them.
So if the batteries are fully charged then they have quite a boost already on takeoff.
Build take off lanes with takeoff ramps from highways.
They board the plane, hug their co-workers, and immediately begin to prepare for takeoff and beverage distribution.
He had been winking at me since takeoff, but now he made his move.
The plane shivered and taxied back to the hangar twice before takeoff.
British Dictionary definitions for takeoff
take off
verb (adverb)
1.
(transitive) to remove or discard (a garment)
2.
(intransitive) (of an aircraft) to become airborne
3.
(informal) to set out or cause to set out on a journey: they took off for Spain
4.
(transitive) (of a disease) to prove fatal to; kill
5.
(transitive) (informal) to mimic or imitate, esp in an amusing or satirical manner
6.
(intransitive) (informal) to become successful or popular, esp suddenly
noun
7.
the act or process of making an aircraft airborne
8.
the stage of a country's economic development when rapid and sustained economic growth is first achieved
9.
(informal) an act of mimicry; imitation
Word Origin and History for takeoff
n.
also take-off, "caricature," colloquial, 1846, from earlier sense of "thing that detracts from something, drawback" (1826), from take (v.) + off. Meaning "act of becoming airborne" is from 1904 in reference to aircraft; in reference to jumping, it is attested from 1869.
Slang definitions & phrases for takeoff
takeoff
modifier
: and if it comes to a take-off thing in the street
noun
An imitation, esp of a famous person, actor, etc; an impression: You should hear her takeoff of Liz Taylor(1846+)
A robbery, esp an armed street robbery or mugging: He always uses the mugger's jargon for a street robbery: ''take-off ''(1960s+)