# boot

Pronunciation: say "BOOT" US /but/, UK /buːt/, AUS /bʉːt/

## Noun

1. A sturdy shoe that covers the foot and ankle and often part of the leg; also, a studded sports shoe for games like soccer.
   - Simple: A strong shoe that covers your foot and ankle, sometimes higher. Also a sports shoe for football.
   - _Hikers wore heavy leather boots for the rocky trail._
   - _Each boot was laced tightly against the cold._
3. The starting or restarting of a computing device by running its startup process.
   - Simple: The action of starting up a computer so it is ready to use.
   - _A cold boot clears the memory completely before the system loads again._
   - _Each boot of the workstation triggered a full hardware check._
4. The enclosed storage compartment of a car for luggage and other items, usually at the rear. *(Australia, British, New Zealand, South Africa)*
   - Simple: The covered storage space at the back of a car for bags and luggage.
   - _He loaded the spare tyre into the boot before the long drive._
   - _They locked the suitcases in the boot overnight._
6. The act of dismissing or firing someone from a job or other position. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: The act of firing someone or making them leave a job.
   - _After the scandal, the director finally got the boot._
   - _Rumors spread that half the department would get the boot._
8. A forceful blow struck with the foot.
   - Simple: A hit given with the foot, or a kick.
   - _A swift boot sent the gate swinging open._
   - _He aimed a frustrated boot at the broken vending machine._
12. A clamping device fixed to a car's wheel to immobilize it until the vehicle is towed or a fine is paid. *(US)*
   - Simple: A metal device locked onto a car's wheel so it cannot move until a fine is paid.
   - _Parking enforcement attached a boot to the illegally parked truck._
   - _He had to pay the fine before crews removed the boot._
9. A member of the armed forces, especially a foot soldier who fights on the ground rather than in vehicles or aircraft. *(US)*
   - Simple: A soldier, especially one who fights on foot.
   - _The general warned that without more boots on the ground, the border could not be held._
   - _Air strikes helped, but it was the boots on the ground who finally took the hill._
10. A flexible rubber or plastic cover, often molded to shape, that shields a shaft, lever, switch, or opening from dust, moisture, and dirt.
   - Simple: A bendy rubber or plastic cover that keeps dust and water out of a part.
   - _Grease leaked out once the steering boot split._
   - _Each gear lever has a boot to keep grit out of the housing._
11. A recently arrived recruit; a newcomer still in training, especially in the military or police. *(slang, US)*
   - Simple: A new recruit who has just joined the military or police.
   - _Every boot reports to the training yard at dawn._
   - _The veterans teased the new boots about their clumsy salutes._
13. Oppression or harsh domination; also the person or power that imposes it.
   - Simple: Cruel, crushing control over people, or the person who holds that power.
   - _For a generation they suffered under the boot of the regime._
   - _Every uprising aimed to break the boot that ground down the poor._
15. An unofficial or unauthorized recording, especially of a live performance, copied and shared without the artist's permission. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: An unofficial recording of a concert or show, made or sold without permission.
   - _The boot of that 1973 gig has better sound than the official album._
   - _Fans circulated boots of the tour long before any live record appeared._
17. A torture device clamped on the feet or legs to crush them, such as the Spanish boot.
   - Simple: A device used long ago to crush or hurt a prisoner's feet or legs.
   - _The jailer locked the boot around the prisoner's calf and turned the screw._
   - _Many confessed under threat of the boot rather than face its iron jaws._
18. A fielding error in which a player mishandles or fumbles a batted ball.
   - Simple: A fielding mistake where a player fumbles the ball and lets it get away.
   - _The shortstop's boot allowed the winning run to score._
   - _A couple of boots in the field rattled the young pitcher._
19. A person considered very unattractive, especially a woman regarded as plain or ugly. *(slang, British)*
   - Simple: A person regarded as very unattractive, especially a woman thought to be ugly.
   - _Calling someone a boot to their face is needlessly cruel._
   - _The tabloids cruelly branded the actress an old boot._

## Verb

2. To start up a computer or other system by triggering its built-in startup sequence.
   - Simple: To turn on a computer so it loads its starting programs.
   - _Engineers had to boot the server twice before it responded._
   - _She watched the terminal boot from an external drive._
5. To force someone to leave a place, position, group, or online game or conversation. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: To make someone leave a place, job, group, or online game.
   - _Security booted the rowdy fans before halftime._
   - _The committee voted to boot the member who broke the rules._
7. To strike or propel something with a forceful kick of the foot.
   - Simple: To kick something hard with your foot.
   - _The goalkeeper booted the ball deep into the opposing half._
   - _Frustrated, he would boot any loose stone in his path._
14. To press down hard on the accelerator for quicker acceleration or to drive faster than usual. *(colloquial, Canada, US)*
   - Simple: To press hard on the gas pedal to make a car go faster.
   - _She booted it out of the parking lot before the storm hit._
   - _When the road cleared, they would boot it toward the coast._
16. To bring up the contents of the stomach through the mouth; to vomit. *(slang)*
   - Simple: To throw up the food in your stomach.
   - _After too many drinks, he had to boot in the alley._
   - _The seasick passengers booted over the rail all morning._

## Other meanings

- (verb) To put on boots, especially in preparation for riding.
- (noun) The hard, crusty end piece of a loaf of bread, cut from either end.
- (noun) A vehicle's tire, especially one fitted to a race car.
- (noun) An inflatable rubber strip along the leading edge of an aircraft wing, expanded periodically to crack and shed built-up ice.
- (noun) A rigid case for carrying a rifle or other long gun, usually molded to its shape.
- (noun) A linear amplifier connected to a CB radio to boost its transmitting power.
- (noun) The inflated sheath of the flag leaf on a wheat plant, enclosing the developing head before it emerges.
- (verb) To shoot a person with a firearm, especially to kill them.
- (noun) Profit or material gain, especially goods seized as plunder.
- (noun) On an old horse-drawn coach, a seat on the outside, at the side or at the front or back, where servants or guards rode.
- (noun) On a horse-drawn coach, a compartment at the front or rear where travelers' luggage was stowed.
- (noun) A contemptuous term for a Black person.
- (noun) A way of putting a wrong right, or relief from trouble.
- (noun) Something extra handed over in a trade so that both sides receive equal value.
- (noun) Benefit or advantage gained from something.
- (noun) The work of mending buildings or other structures.
- (noun) A medicine or treatment that heals an illness.
- (verb) To be of use or advantage to someone.
- (verb) To make a difference or be of any importance.
- (verb) To make someone or something richer.

## Origin

**Meanings 1, 4–14, 16–19** — Old French bote, meaning a high, thick shoe, gave Middle English boote or bote ("shoe"). Where the French word came from is obscure. It is probably connected with Old French bot ("club-foot") and with words meaning "fat, short, blunt," which go back through Old Frankish and Proto-Germanic to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to strike, push." If that is right, boot is a doublet of butt.
**Meanings 2–3** — A clipping of bootstrap.
**Meaning 15** — From bootleg ("to make or sell illegally"), by shortening.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/boot (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).