Takeoff: Leaving the Ground, and Imitating Someone
Takeoff is the moment an aircraft leaves the ground. It also means an affectionate imitation, and both are about departure.
Takeoff is the moment an aircraft becomes airborne. The word also means a comic imitation — a *take-off* of a politician — from the idea of taking someone off, or copying them. Pilots divide the roll by speeds: V1 is the point after which the take-off must continue whatever happens.
- Becoming airborne. *Ready for takeoff.*
- A comic imitation (British). *A take-off of the presenter.*
- Rapid growth. *Sales took off.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | takeoff | A smooth takeoff. |
| Plural | takeoffs | Delayed takeoffs. |
| Verb phrase | take off | We take off at six. |
| Opposite | landing | A hard landing. |
| Related | runway | A short runway. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Cabin crew, seats for takeoff.Standard announcement.
- His take-off of the manager was cruel.British, meaning imitation.
- The business really took off.Grew rapidly.
Takeoff speeds
- V1 — the decision speed; after this the take-off continues
- VR — rotation speed, when the nose is raised
- V2 — the safe climb speed with one engine out
- Flaps — extended to increase lift at low speed
- Rejected take-off — abandoning the roll before V1
A noun from the phrasal verb *take off*, recorded in aviation from the early twentieth century. The imitation sense is older and British.
What is V1?
The speed after which a take-off cannot safely be abandoned. Past V1 the aircraft goes flying even if an engine fails.
Takeoff or take-off?
American English writes takeoff; British English often keeps the hyphen, especially for the imitation sense.