takeoff

• take-off

Deverbal from take off.

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

takeoff (countable and uncountable, plural takeoffs)

1. The rising or ascent of an aircraft or rocket into flight.

   The flight was smooth, but the takeoff was a little rough.

   Coordinate term: landing

2. A parody or lampoon of someone or something.

   Weird Al's song "Lasagna" is a takeoff on the popular song "La Bamba".

   • 1897, Edward Bellamy, “ch. 23”, in Equality:

     I came across a little pamphlet of the period, yellow and almost undecipherable, which, on examination, I found to be a rather amusing skit or satirical take-off on the profit system.

3. A quantification, especially of building materials.

   I'll give you an estimate after I do the quantity takeoffs for the trusses and structural steel.

4. (printing, UK, historical) The removal of sheets from the press.
5. The spot from which one takes off; specifically, the place from which a jumper rises in leaping.
   • Encyclopaedia of Sport

     The take-off should be selected with great care, and a pit of large dimensions provided on the landing side.

• liftoff

(start of a flight):

• rejected takeoff
• rolling takeoff

• take off

• offtake