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boot

/buːt/

Transitive VerbIntransitive Verb[C/U] Both
pl: bootspast: bootedpp: booteding: booting

The term carries a strong sense of utilitarianism and force. Whether it refers to heavy footwear for harsh weather or the act of kicking someone out of a room, there is an underlying theme of bluntness and practicality. In the digital realm, the term evolved from the phrase bootstrap, evoking the image of pulling oneself up by one's own laces. This creates a technical nuance of self-initiation, where a small piece of code triggers a much larger system to wake up.

Countable when referring to the footwear you wear on your feet. Uncountable when referring to the storage space in a vehicle.

💬Conversación Casual

🎬Tuesday afternoon in a cubicle farm; Mark is avoiding a spreadsheet.
Mark

my pc is totally frozen. it won't even boot.

Mark
Brian
Brian

did you actually try to restart it or are you just winging it?

💡
Mark uses 'boot' in the technical sense of starting up a computer. Brian responds with 'winging it', an idiom meaning to do something without preparation or proper method, reflecting his irritation with Mark's incompetence.

Meanings

Noun
[someone][something]

A sturdy type of shoe covering the foot and ankle, or extending up the leg.

"He pulled on his leather boots before heading out into the snow."

Noun
[someone][something]

The storage compartment at the rear of a car (British English).

"Could you put the groceries in the boot of the car?"

Transitive Verb
[someone][something]

To start up a computer system by loading the operating system into memory.

"It takes about thirty seconds for my laptop to boot."

Transitive Verb
[someone][something]

To force someone to leave a place or an organization.

"He was booted from the club after the argument."

Intransitive Verb
[someone][something]

To start up a computer system.

"The server is booting now; please wait."

Related Words

Last Updated: May 26, 2026Report an Error