From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:
takeoff
n 1: a departure; especially of airplanes
2: the initial ascent of an airplane as it becomes airborne
3: a composition that imitates somebody's style in a humorous
way [syn: parody, lampoon, spoof, sendup,
mockery, burlesque, travesty, charade,
pasquinade, put-on]
4: humorous or satirical mimicry [syn: parody, mockery]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Takeoff \Take"off`\, Take-off \Take"-off`\, n.
1. An imitation, especially in the way of caricature; -- used
with of or on; as, the comedian did a hilarious takeoff on
the president.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
2. The spot at which one takes off; specif., the place from
which a jumper rises in leaping.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
The take-off should be selected with great care, and
a pit of large dimensions provided on the landing
side. --Encyc. of
Sport.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
3. The beginning of a leap from a surface or a flight into
the air, especially the process or event of an airplane
leaving the ground and beginning its flight; as, the
takeoff of flight CA123 was scheduled for 3:00 PM.
[PJC]