take-offadj.n.
/ˈteɪkɒf/, U.S. /ˈteɪkˌɔf/, /ˈteɪkˌɑf/ A. adj.
1. Chiefly North American. Relating to, involving, or of the nature of a lampoon, parody, or send-up. Cf. sense B. 3 and to take off 6d at take v. Phrasal verbs 1.
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society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > performance of jester or comedian > [adjective]
take-off1758
slapstick1906
custard pie1917
1758 (title) A bone for the chroniclers to pick; or a take-off scene from behind the curtain.
1908 Goshen (Indiana) Daily Democrat 11 Nov. 2/6 Some of these take-off sketchists put a pair of crinkled and accordion-plaited breeks on Bryan.
1921 Sandusky (Ohio) Star-Jrnl. 26 Feb. 21/4 Essays.., cartoons, poems and take-off skits on several prominent plays are contained in the volume.
1957 Star-News (Pasadena, Calif.) 7 June 14/4 This [record] includes the tune ‘Thinking of You, MJQ’, the quartet's take-off tribute to the Modern Jazz Quartet.
1989 E. Williams-Jones in S. Day-Lewis One Day in Life of Television x. 156 Everything in triplicate for the Bananarama take-off sketch.
2000 Globe & Mail (Canada) (Nexis) 15 July r1 There's just something about paying six bucks to sit on a sticky milk crate and watch our brother's girlfriend's take-off skit of Happy Days performed on the stage of the local tavern.
2.
a. Chiefly Sport. Designating a place from which one commences a jump.Recorded earliest in take-off board n. (a) at Compounds.
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the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > upward movement > leaping, springing, or jumping > [adjective] > from which one takes off in leaping
take-off1869
1869 Radcliffe 17 Apr. 27/2 The last foot before the take-off board is as it were banked up, so as to make a most perceptible rise.
1889 Boy's Own Paper 7 Sept. 780/3 The ground on the further side of the take-off line.
1922 Pop. Mech. Oct. 513/1 The ‘take-off’ point, from which the leap into the air is made, was located on paper.
1973 Boys' Life Apr. 25/1 Select a take-off spot and keep your eye on it as you make your approach run.
1999 G. Carr Fund. Track & Field (ed. 2) ix. 156/1 A take-off area virtually eliminates foul jumps.
b. Of or relating to the take-off of an aircraft, as take-off area, take-off run, take-off speed, etc.
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1918 Motor Age 23 May 9/1 Improper judgment of his take-off speed..caused the fall.
1921 F. H. Colvin & H. F. Colvin Aircraft Handbk. (ed. 2) xviii. 300 An aeroplane when taking off shall keep as far as possible towards the right of the take off zone.
1943 Yank 16 July 10 The planes..proceed down the roadway to the take-off strip.
1969 New Yorker 12 Apr. 100/2 The experiments, after they are set up, will be out of range of the blast of the LM's takeoff rocket.
1973 ‘D. Kyle’ Raft of Swords (1974) ii. xv. 162 He made take-off speed bumping disconcertingly.
1976 P. Cave High Flying Birds iii. 37 Before strapping in, I walked to the edge of the take-off area and cast my eyes around for any possible snags.
1981 C. Potok Bk. of Lights (1982) v. 129 They landed in late afternoon... As they walked, a huge aircraft went into its takeoff run.
1990 J. Nance Final Approach ii. 13 He glanced at Jean as she extended the wing flaps to the takeoff setting.
c. Designating the point from which a new undertaking or activity is begun; of or relating to the beginning of a new phase of (rapid) growth, development, etc.
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the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > beginning > [adjective] > of or relating to starting-point
take-off1933
1933 Univ. Chicago Law Rev. 1 297 It is..by no means clear that the Act is restricted to public marketing or offering of securities, though the ‘take off’ point (as Berle puts it) seems at first blush to be the public offer.
1947 Radiology 49 304/2 Prior to death, the heart may be injured, as shown by a lowering of the take-off level of the T-wave.
1962 M. McLuhan Gutenberg Galaxy 79 The great medieval invention of typography that was the ‘take-off’ moment into the new spaces of the modern world.
1974 Times 21 Jan. 6/2 Nineteen sixty-six was the take-off year for population.
1992 J. R. Dominguez & V. Robin Your Money or your Life vi. 204 The video provides a takeoff point, the half hour of discussion usually brings some new perspective to light.
3.
a. Designating a part of a machine from which items are taken off. Also: designating a device or component designed to remove something.Recorded earliest in take-off roll n. (a) at Compounds.
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society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > mechanism > [adjective] > parts of
take-off1869
spring-loaded1871
retractile1879
gadgety1934
1869 U.S. Patent 95,580 1/1 From [this]..doffer the carded sliver or roving is stripped, or wiped by the wiper or take-off roll.
1885 Official Gaz. (U.S. Patent Office) 29 Dec. 1541/1 The loop is severed while on the take-off hook.
1890 Canad. Patent Office Rec. Sept. 466/1 A take-off flue connecting the hot-air chamber with the room to be heated.
1907 Cambr. Mod. Hist. Prospectus 97 So soon as the whole sheet is clear of the take-off drum, flyers..waft the sheet through a semi-circular arc, and drop it on to the take-off board.
1999 Global Ceramic Rev. Autumn 17/2 The bricks are grouped and spaced as required and fed to the take-off belt.
b. That may be taken off; designed to be readily put on and taken off; removable. rare.
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the world > space > place > removal or displacement > [adjective] > removed or taken away > able to be
removablec1470
exemptile1607
exemptible1611
pull-off1875
tear-off1889
twist-off1932
take-off1950
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > separation or detachment > [adjective] > detachable > specific
pull-off1875
tear-off1889
punch-out1931
take-off1950
peel-off1960
1950 N.Y. Times 29 Nov. 42/6 (heading) Take-off attire for spring shown. Bathing suits, town costumes and evening gowns have parts to be removed.
1977 Lancashire Life Feb. 20/2 Minty (..showing their latest range of suites with take-off covers).
B. n.
1. A thing which mars or impairs something; a drawback. Cf. to take off 2d at take v. Phrasal verbs 1. Now rare.
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the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > [noun] > a disadvantage
damage1398
disadvantagec1425
afterdeal1481
disprofit?1555
where the shoe pinches?a1580
drawbacka1640
negative1702
take-off1797
letdown1840
disamenity1864
handicap1872
back-draw1883
disbenefit1968
the world > relative properties > quantity > decrease or reduction in quantity, amount, or degree > deduction > [noun] > that which is deducted > a deduction or diminution
drawback1753
take-off1797
1797 W. Russell Diary 8 Nov. in S. H. Jeyes Russells of Birmingham (1911) xvi. 263 All the servants have black faces, which to me always proves a sad take-off when I see the smart liveries.
1826 M. R. Mitford Our Village II. 214 Notwithstanding these take-offs, our good duchess had still the air of a lady of rank.
1883 R. Gower My Reminisc. I. xvi. 304 The only take-off to being perfectly happy is the state of my dearest mother's health.
1904 H. James Golden Bowl (1905) II. iv. xxix. 353 That's the only take-off, that it has made us perhaps lazy, a wee bit languid.
2.
a. A place or spot from which a jump, leap, or dive is or may be made. Also in extended use: a point of departure.
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the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > upward movement > leaping, springing, or jumping > [noun] > act of taking off > place of taking off
take-off1833
1833 New Sporting Mag. Nov. 55/2 This happened to be the second jump, and several falls occurred; the take off being somewhat awkward.
1869 R. D. Blackmore Lorna Doone I. x. 116 Is she able to leap sir? There is a good take-off on this side of the brook.
1904 R. Thomas Swimming (rev. ed.) 409/2 The one ‘ready to dive’ should have his feet over the edge of the takeoff.
1906 Westm. Gaz. 27 Aug. 4/1 The Great Western adopted Milford Haven as the ‘take-off’ for its service of steamers to Ireland.
1986 Horse & Hound 18 Apr. 14/2 Take-offs at the cross-country obstacles had already been underlaid with scalpings.
b. The commencement of a jump, leap, or dive. Also figurative.
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the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > upward movement > leaping, springing, or jumping > [noun] > act of taking off
taking off1881
take-off1889
push-off1928
1889 Boy's Own Paper 7 Sept. 780/3 It..also encourages the habit of judging the take-off with accuracy.
1905 Westm. Gaz. 15 May 4/1 The true basis of offensive strategy is to ensure a sound ‘take-off’.
1920 H. E. Naylor & M. Temple Mod. Physical Educ. 189 The ‘take-off’ may be made from one foot.
1922 S. Scoville Wild Folk v. 105 In spite of this clumsy take-off, the fierce force that shows in everything a weasel does, drove him a foot ahead of the chipmunk's mark.
1951 Swimming (E.S.S.A.) iii. 49 The take-off in the back-crawl is immediate, since there is no over-balancing to contend with as in the front-crawl or the breast-stroke.
2002 Times Educ. Suppl. 27 Sept. 18 (advt.) His famous ‘Fosbury Flop’..featured a fast approach, a rapid change of direction and take-off from the outside foot.
c. With reference to an aircraft: the act of becoming airborne. Also: the point at which a hydrofoil is lifted clear of the water.
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society > travel > air or space travel > action of flying (in) aircraft > specific flying operations or procedures > [noun] > take-off
take-off1904
get-off1910
hop-off1926
unsticking1926
1904 Aeronaut. Jrnl. 8 56/1 The incline is one in two, the lower end forming a curve... The ‘take-off’ is on an upward incline of one in ten.
1914 in C. F. S. Gamble Story North Sea Air Station (1928) 70 That take-off of his was worth going a long way to see.
1931 C. Nordhoff & J. N. Hall Falcons of France 134 We jumped into our flying suits and were ready for the take-off within three minutes.
1951 M. Greenberg Travelers of Space 20 Blast-off, the initial expenditure of energy by a space ship leaving a planet, or in emergency takeoffs.
1974 Daily Colonist (Victoria, Brit. Columbia) 28 Dec. 4/3 When the [hydrofoil] boat rises on its struts, it is called ‘take-off’.
1983 Flying Nov. 69/3 Sure, I can fly a Learjet perfectly well—smooth takeoffs, good landings, the whole bit.
1996 Pop. Mech. June 49/1 By increasing blade pitch, the pilot increases lift during takeoff and landing.
2000 A. Sayle Barcelona Plates 102 A few glasses of champagne before take-off and they are revving again like the engines of the 747.
d. Surfing. The point at which a surfer begins riding the wave.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > water sports except racing > surfing > [noun] > types or parts of wave
pounder1927
dumper1933
take-off1935
greeny1940
beach break1954
beacher1956
big kahuna1959
greenback1959
close out1962
curl1962
shore break1962
shoulder1962
soup1962
tube1962
wall1962
face1963
peak1963
pipeline1963
set1963
reef break1965
surfable wave1965
point break1966
green room1968
slide1968
barrel1975
left-hander1980
A-frame1992
1935 T. Blake Hawaiian Surfboard iv. 82 When one falls flat upon the board from the start, he very seldom hits the proper balancing point and either takes a spill or makes a poor take-off.
1952 A. Gordon Slight Touch of Safari viii. 74 My surf-board is nearly wrenched from my grasp and I am beginning to wonder why I have bothered with this business. After much fighting I reach the required depth for the take-off.
1963 S. Szabados in J. Pollard Austral. Surfrider ii. 20/1 Another thing you have to watch is the ‘late take-off’, catching a wave at the last minute as it begins to break.
1985 L. Choyce Avalanche Ocean (1987) i. ii. 13 A powerful eight-foot wall of water will tempt you into a takeoff that leads to vicious wipeouts from a thick-lipped, bully wave.
2006 Carve Surfing Mag. Sept. (Surfgirl Mag. Suppl.) 12 The guy took a look, clearly thought, ‘Nah, she won't make the takeoff,’ and dropped in.
3. A parody, a send-up. Also occasionally: a person who parodies or sends up. Frequently with of or (chiefly U.S.) on. Cf. sense A. 1 and to take off 6d at take v. Phrasal verbs 1.
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society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > other dramatic or variety performances > [noun]
antic1580
wayang1671
light entertainment1787
take-off1845
féerie1878
showboating1909
mirthquake1911
mirthquaker1921
icecapade1940
happening1959
stripagram1981
society > leisure > the arts > literature > a written composition > [noun] > parody or burlesque
parody1607
burlesque1667
travestya1668
caricatura1732
caricature1756
skit1820
take-off1845
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > derision, ridicule, or mockery > ridicule or mockery by specific means > [noun] > by imitation > an act or instance of
parody1607
caricatura1752
burlesque1753
caricature1767
take-off1845
send-up1958
piss-take1975
1845 Universalist Union 1 Mar. 255 Our little folks will understand the following as a ‘take-off’, of the common English pronunciation.
1855 F. K. Robinson Gloss. Yorks. Words 175 A tak off, a descriptive burlesque... A mimic, or satirical person.
1884 G. H. Boughton in Harper's Mag. Sept. 526/1 He trotted beside the car.., roaring with glee at his ‘take off’.
1930 C. Wittke Tambo & Bones iv. 157 The take-offs on theatrical stars..often displayed rare powers of mimicry.
1967 J. Philip et al. Best of Granta ii. 103 A favourite ploy was to devote a whole issue to a take-off of a national magazine.
1976 New Yorker 15 Nov. 4/2 This musical, with the indicated twist, is a foolish takeoff on foolish musicals of the thirties.
2009 Wire Jan. 29/2 I saw a reproduction of a Republican party campaign button that read ‘Nope’ (a takeoff of the Democratic button that read ‘Hope’).
4. Croquet. A stroke in which one's own ball makes contact with another ball, so as to send one's own ball in the direction in which the mallet is aimed, the other ball staying almost stationary or moving from the struck ball at a right angle.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > croquet > [noun] > types of stroke
following stroke1837
rush1868
stop-stroke1868
cut1874
cut-over1874
jump-stroke1874
take-off1874
tice1874
passing croquet1877
split1896
split stroke1897
passing stroke1901
jump shot1909
Hong Kong1957
split shot1975
1874 J. D. Heath Compl. Croquet-player 57 When the latter either is likely to miss his partner, or will have a long take-off to separate you.
1898 Baily's Mag. Oct. 293/2 That ball (to which you are to get by means of a take-off from the ball left in the centre) cannot very well be too near the hoop.
1983 J. Osborn & J. Kornbluth Winning Croquet 15 Even if you are already..mastering four-ball breaks, take-offs and peels, this book can be a handy reminder of the most basic truths of croquet.
1995 S. Boga Croquet 53 You can move it [sc. the pivot ball] around the stake by playing take-offs from it or by roqueting it.
5. = power take-off n. at power n.1 Compounds 3.
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society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > machines which impart power > engine > [noun] > transmission of power
take-off1896
power take-off1928
PTO1951
1896 Engin. Mech. 174/2 The take-off is on one side, the driving pulley at the other.
1918 Amer. City Mar. 260 (advt.) An interesting example of the versatility of the GMC Truck is the service it performs by means of the ‘take-off’ winch attachment.
1947 Pop. Mech. Apr. 125 The take-off consists of a double roller with mounting ramps and a power shaft housing.
2001 L. K. A. Sear Prop. & Use Coal Fly Ash v. 142 Power is supplied through a coupling from a take-off from the towing tractor.
6. The act of starting off on a journey; a departure. Cf. to take off 10a at take v. Phrasal verbs 1. Now rare.
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society > travel > aspects of travel > departure, leaving, or going away > [noun] > setting out > instance of
sally1657
set-off1759
set-forth1829
take-off1928
off1968
1928 H. Crane Let. Dec. (1965) 332 [I] think I'm going to like London entirely too well for an early take-off to Spain.
1961 Princeton Alumni Weekly 13 Jan. 20/1 Seeing many 1909 classmates, to mention a few, the ‘Turk’ Houses before their take-off to Greece, the Bayard Dodges, [etc.].
1973 Black Panther 13 Oct. 17/1 The little green Fiat conveniently parked on the corner for what was to have been a speedy take-off.
7. Economics. The beginning of growth or development; esp. the beginning of a new phase of accelerated or increased growth or development.
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society > trade and finance > management of money > management of national resources > [noun] > political economy > growth > beginning of
take-off1933
1933 C. F. Remer Study Chinese Boycotts xii. 159 The turn is shown, also, by the definite shrinkage in the take-off of Japanese piece goods by the end of the month.
1957 Listener 10 Oct. 554/2 Development capital and trading conditions which facilitate their take-off into industrialisation.
1979 Dædalus Spring 1 In a country like France, where the postwar ‘take-off’ was particularly painful.
1999 Chicago Tribune 30 Jan. ii. 1/1 (heading) Inducements help on-line trading's big takeoff.
Compounds
take-off board n. [with sense (b) compare earlier taking-off board n. at taking off n. Compounds 2] (a) Sport a board from which a jump is made; (b) Printing a board on which freshly printed sheets are deposited being before being laid out or hung up to dry (now rare).
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society > communication > printing > printing machine or press > parts of printers or presses > [noun] > device for removing finished sheets
take-off board1869
1869Take-off board [see sense A. 2a].
1875 Chronol. & Descriptive Index Patents 1874 932 Arranging endless bands to receive the printed sheets and to convey them from the cylinder to the take off board.
1907 Cambr. Mod. Hist. Prospectus 97 Drop it on to the take-off board..fixed at the end of the press opposite that from which the sheet started.
1948 R. D. Binfield Story Olympic Games vi. 70 If in the ‘take-off’ the jumper's foot overlaps the take-off board it is a ‘no jump’ and does not count.
1999 G. Cox Dict. Sport iv. 148/1 In the long jump, athletes attempt to jump as far as possible into a sandpit from a take-off board following a sprint run-up.
take-off roll n. (a) (chiefly Textiles and Spinning) a rotating cylinder on to which a fibre, textile, or sheet material is taken off at the end of a stage in its manufacturing process; spec. (esp. in early use) one that removes aligned fibre from the doffer of a carding machine; (b) Aeronautics the first part of the take-off run of an aeroplane, during which its wheels are in contact with the ground.
ΚΠ
1869Take-off roll [see sense A. 3a].
1956 Brit. Patent 749,661 3/1 A strong rotational movement is conveyed to the propeller through the intervention of the flexible shaft..so that the toy aeroplane starts moving..and after a short take-off roll, becomes airborne.
1968 ‘F. W. Dixon’ Sinister Signpost xii. 87 Dawn was just breaking as Jack began his take-off roll at the Bayport field.
1998 F. Fourné Synthetic Fibers ix. 769 The yarn runs through a heated tube at a defined pre-tension..over a roller to which is fixed a force measuring cell, and is then taken off by means of a take-off roll.
2001 RCM & E (Radio Control Models & Electronics) Mar. 77/4 (caption) With that pylon mounted wing in the way, keeping the full-size in a straight line during the take off roll must have given the pilot a cricked neck!
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1758- tenderizer
- tenderizers
- tenderizes
- tenderizing
- tenderlier
- tenderliest
- tenderling
- tenderlings
- tenderloin
- tenderloin district
- tenderloin steak
- tenderloins
- tenderlooking
- tenderly
- tenderminded
- tendermindedness
- tendermouthed
- tendernatured
- tenderness
- tendernesses
- tendernosed
- tenderometer
- tenderometers
- tenderpad
- tenderpersoned