boot

SayBOOT/but/UK/buːt//bʉːt/

Pluralboots

Verbboots, booting, booted

39 meanings of boot

Practice

1
heavy shoenouncountable
A strong shoe that covers your foot and ankle, sometimes higher. Also a sports shoe for football.
Like a shoe that reaches up high to keep your leg warm and dry.
She pulled on her boots before walking through the snow.
He lost one boot in the deep mud.
UsageSay a pair of boots.
Note
2
start (computer)verb
To turn on a computer so it loads its starting programs.
Like starting a car's engine so everything inside can begin working.
You need to boot the machine before logging in.
The old laptop took ages to boot in the morning.
UsageOften boot up. The opposite is shut down.
Similarstart (entry), bootstrap
Oppositestop
3
startup processnoun
The action of starting up a computer so it is ready to use.
Like the moment you switch on a machine and wait for it to wake up.
A clean boot fixed the frozen screen.
The boot took several minutes on the old computer.
Note
4
car trunknounAustraliaBritishNew ZealandSouth Africacountable
The covered storage space at the back of a car for bags and luggage.
Like a big box at the back of a car where you keep your things.
She put the shopping in the boot and drove home.
The boot was too small for all their suitcases.
UsagePut bags in the boot. In the US it is the trunk.
Similartrunk
Note
5
remove someoneverbcolloquialtransitive
To make someone leave a place, job, group, or online game.
Like pushing someone out the door when they are not welcome.
The bouncer booted him from the club for fighting.
They threatened to boot her from the team.
UsageSay boot someone out of a club.
Similarexpel, eject, oust, remove, dismiss
Oppositeadmit
6
dismissalnouncolloquialwith the
The act of firing someone or making them leave a job.
Like being told to pack up and go because you are no longer wanted.
He got the boot after missing too many shifts.
Poor sales gave the manager the boot.
UsageSay get the boot: lose your job.
Similarsack, axe, push, chop
7
kick (something)verbtransitive
To kick something hard with your foot.
Like kicking a stone as hard as you can down the road.
Defenders often boot the ball clear of the goal.
He booted the can down the alley.
UsageOften with a direction: boot the ball away.
Similarkick, punt
8
a kicknoununcountable
A hit given with the foot, or a kick.
Like the thump you make when you kick a ball as hard as you can.
He gave the door a hard boot to open it.
One good boot sent the ball flying.
UsageSay give the door a boot.
Similarkick
9
soldiernounUScountable
A soldier, especially one who fights on foot.
Like a worker who does the hard job on the ground, not the boss giving orders.
The army needs more boots on the ground to keep the town safe.
Planes can't do it all. This job needs boots on the ground.
UsageMostly in boots on the ground: soldiers who are there.
Similarsoldier, infantryman, trooper, grunt
10
rubber covernouncountable
A bendy rubber or plastic cover that keeps dust and water out of a part.
Like a little rubber sleeve that wraps around a part to keep it clean and dry.
The mechanic replaced the cracked rubber boot on the axle.
A torn boot let dirt into the joint.
Similargaiter
Note
11
new recruitnounslangUScountable
A new recruit who has just joined the military or police.
Like a new kid at school who doesn't know the rules yet.
The sergeant paired each boot with an experienced partner.
The boots fumbled through their first drill.
Similarrecruit, rookie, trainee, newbie
Oppositeveteran
Note

Less common meanings

12
wheel clampnounUScountable
A metal device locked onto a car's wheel so it cannot move until a fine is paid.
Like a lock that traps a car's wheel so it cannot roll away.
The city put a boot on his car for unpaid tickets.
She found a yellow boot clamped to her front wheel.
UsageThe city puts a boot on your car.
Similarclamp
Note
13
harsh controlnounfigurativelywith the
Cruel, crushing control over people, or the person who holds that power.
Like a heavy foot pressing down on someone who cannot get up.
The people lived for years under the boot of a cruel ruler.
They finally threw off the boot that had crushed them for so long.
UsageSay under the boot of a cruel ruler.
Similaryoke, heel, oppression, tyranny
Note
14
drive fastverbcolloquialCanadaUStransitive
To press hard on the gas pedal to make a car go faster.
Like pressing harder on a bike pedal to speed up.
He booted it down the highway to make the meeting.
Just boot it when the light turns green.
UsageSay boot it: drive fast.
Similarfloor, gun
15
unofficial recordingnouncolloquial
An unofficial recording of a concert or show, made or sold without permission.
Like a secret video someone films at a concert and shares with friends.
He bought a rare boot of the band's first concert.
I am looking to trade Iron Maiden boots. I have many Iron Maiden bootlegs. I have lots of Metallica. I trade CDR's, tapes and videos.
1999, Tom Fletcher, “Looking for Iron Maiden boot traders”Here, boots means unofficial recordings shared without the band's permission.
UsageUse the full word bootleg to make the meaning clear.
Note
16
throw upverbslangintransitive
To throw up the food in your stomach.
Like your stomach pushing everything back up when you feel really sick.
He felt so sick he had to boot in the bathroom.
She booted after the rough boat ride.
UsageIn polite talk, say be sick.
Similarpuke, vomit, spew, barf, hurl
17
torture devicenouncountable
A device used long ago to crush or hurt a prisoner's feet or legs.
Like a heavy clamp slowly squeezing someone's leg until it hurts.
The prisoner screamed as they tightened the boot on his leg.
Confessions were forced from suspects with the boot.
Note
18
baseball errornouncountable
A fielding mistake where a player fumbles the ball and lets it get away.
Like dropping a ball someone tossed you when you should have caught it easily.
His boot let the runner reach second base.
Two boots in one inning cost the team the game.
Similarerror, fumble, bobble, muff
Note
19
ugly personnounslangBritishcountable
A person regarded as very unattractive, especially a woman thought to be ugly.
He rudely called her an old boot in front of everyone.
She overheard the lads dismissing her as a boot.
UsageUsually old boot. It is a cruel thing to say.
Similardog, hag
Oppositebeauty, stunner
20
verbdated
To put boots on, especially before riding a horse.
Coated and booted for it.
1641, Ben Jonson, Discoveries Made upon Men and Matter
21
noundialectal
The hard end piece cut from either end of a loaf of bread.
22
nounslang
A rubber tire, especially one fitted to a race car.
23
noun
A rubber strip on the front of an airplane wing that puffs up to break off ice.
24
noun
A hard case shaped to hold a long gun like a rifle.
25
nounslang
An extra device that boosts the power of a CB radio's signal.
26
noun
The swollen leaf covering near the top of a wheat plant, just before the seed head appears.
27
verbdialectalMulticultural London English
To shoot someone, especially to kill them with a gun.
28
nounobsolete
Money or goods gained, especially things taken as loot.
29
nounobsolete
An outside seat on an old coach where servants rode.
30
nounarchaic
A box at the front or rear of a horse-drawn coach for bags.
31
nounslang
A rude, hateful word for a Black person.
32
nounarchaic
Something that makes up for a wrong or fixes a problem.
next her Son, our soul's best boot
1820, William Wordsworth, The Prioress' Tale (from Chaucer)
33
noun
Something added in a trade to make it fair.
34
nounobsolete
A benefit or something good you get.
Then talk no more of flight, it is no boot.
1591, William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”
35
nounobsolete
Mending houses and other things that have been built.
36
nounobsolete
A medicine that makes you well.
37
verbarchaic
To help or be useful.
Think you that we should quarrel with the French? / What boots to us your victories, your glory? / We pay, we fight, you profit at your ease.
1794, Robert Southey, Wat Tyler. A Dramatic Poem. In Three Acts
38
verbarchaic
To be important or make a difference.
What boots whether it be Westminster or a little country spire which covers your ashes, or if, a few days sooner or later, the world forgets you?
1848, William Makepeace Thackeray, The History of Pendennis.
39
verbarchaic
To add to someone's wealth.
And I will boot thee with what guift beſide / Thy modeſtie can begge.
c. 1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of boot apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1, 4–14, 16–19

It comes from the Old French word bote, which meant a high, thick shoe. No one is sure where bote came from. It may be linked to a word meaning "short" or "blunt."

Meanings 2–3

A shortened form of the word bootstrap.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 1 fact

Boot in its computing sense is a shortened form of bootstrap. en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 15

A shortened form of bootleg, meaning to make or sell illegally.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 1 fact

Boot is a shortening of bootleg, meaning to make or sell illegally. en.wiktionary.org