takeoff

noun

USTAYK-awf/ˈteɪkˌɔf/TAYK-of/ˈteɪkˌɒf/

6 meanings of takeoff

1
nouncountable or uncountable
The moment when a plane, rocket, bird, or jumper leaves the ground and goes up into the air.
We held hands during takeoff because she was nervous about flying.
The heavy goose needed a long run across the pond for takeoff.
Similarlaunch, liftoff, ascent
Oppositelanding, touchdown
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2
nouncountable
A funny copy of someone or something that makes fun of them.
The class play was a takeoff on our principal's morning speeches.
His comedy show does a great takeoff of a famous rock singer.
Similarparody, spoof, lampoon, satire
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3
nouncountable
The place you jump or take off from, like the spot where a jumper leaves the ground.
The coach marked the takeoff with white tape.
The horse slowed down as it came near the takeoff in front of the fence.
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4
nouncountable
The first thing a surfer does to start riding a wave.
She made a clean takeoff and rode the wave all the way to the beach.
Big waves make the takeoff scary for new surfers.
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5
nouncountable
Working out how much of something a job needs, especially building materials.
The builder did a takeoff of the bricks before ordering them.
Our takeoff showed we needed forty more sheets of drywall.
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6
nounhistoricalUKuncountable
In old printing, taking the sheets of paper off the press.
The boy's job was the takeoff, lifting each wet sheet from the press.
Takeoff was slow work in the small print shop.
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Practice

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Origin

It comes from the verb phrase "take off".