Lanciare

Lanciare is an Italian verb meaning to throw, to cast, or to launch. It covers a physical action, as in lanciare una palla or lanciare una freccia, and a wide range of figurative uses, such as lanciare una campagna pubblicitaria, lanciare un prodotto, o lanciare un allarme. In many contexts it also conveys initiating something, for example lanciare un progetto or lanciare una sfida.

Etymology and meaning development: the verb derives from lancia, spears, reflecting the original sense of throwing or hurling a spear. Through its evolution, lanciare acquired the broader figurative meanings of starting or promoting an initiative, idea, or action, in addition to its concrete sense.

Conjugation and forms: lanciare belongs to the regular -are verb class. Present indicative forms include io lancio, tu lanci, lui/lei lancia, noi lanciamo, voi lanciate, loro lanciano. The past participle is lanciato and the gerund is lanciando. Imperfect is lanciavo, lanciavi, lanciava, lanciavamo, lanciavate, lanciavano; future forms are lancerò, lancerai, lancerà, lanceremo, lancerete, lanceranno. The passato remoto (literary past) typically appears as lanciai, lanciarono. Reflexive use, as in lanciarsi, means to throw oneself into an activity or situation.

Usage notes and synonyms: lanciare is often preferred for deliberate initiation or promotion (launching a campaign, product, or idea) and for physical throwing. Synonyms include gettare (to throw), scagliare (to hurl), and lanciarsi (to throw oneself into something). In English, translations vary by context: to throw, to launch, to hurl, or to toss.

See also: lancia (spear) and Lancia (the car manufacturer, a separate proper noun).