1. The initial ascent of an aeroplane as it becomes airborne
   "The passengers felt a slight jolt during takeoff"
    
2. A departure; especially of airplanes
   "The takeoff was delayed due to bad weather"
    
3. A composition that imitates or misrepresents somebody's style, usually in a humorous way
   "The comedy show featured a brilliant takeoff of the politician's mannerisms";
   - parody, lampoon, spoof [informal], sendup [informal], send-up [informal], mockery, burlesque, travesty, pasquinade, put-on [N. Amer, informal]
    
4. [informal] Humorous or satirical mimicry
   "The late-night show's takeoff of the popular movie had the audience in stitches";
   - parody, mockery

1. Remove clothes or shoes
   "take off your shirt — it's very hot in here"
    
2. Take away
   "The waiter took off the dirty plates from the table"
    
3. Head for somewhere else
   "The family took off for Florida";
   - depart, part, start, start out, set forth, set off, set out
    
4. Depart from the ground
   "The plane took off two hours late";
   - lift off
    
5. Get started or become successful
   "the project took a long time to take off";
   - get off the ground
    
6. Take time off from work; stop working temporarily
   "She decided to take off to travel around Europe";
   - take time off
    
7. [informal] Mimic or imitate in an amusing or satirical manner
   "This song takes off from a famous aria"
    
8. Prove fatal
   "The disease took off"
    
9. (arithmetic) make a subtraction
   "take off this amount from my paycheque";
   - subtract, deduct

Derived forms: took off, takes off, taking off, taken off, takeoffs

See also: take

Type of: apery [archaic], ascension, ascent, calculate, caricature, cipher, compute, copy, cut off, cypher, departure, discase [archaic], disrobe, disrupt, figure [N. Amer], get going, go, go away, go forth, going, going away, imitate, imitation, impersonation, interrupt, kill, leave, leaving, mimicry, off [informal], peel, reckon, remove, rise, rising, simulate, start, strip, strip down [informal], take, take away, uncase [archaic], unclothe, undress, unrobe, withdraw, work out

Encyclopedia: Takeoff