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boot
1[boot]
noun
a covering of leather, rubber, or the like, for the foot and ankle, and usually all or part of the leg.
She wore knee-high boots over her jeans.
This plaid shirt will look great with distressed black jeans and a cute pair of ankle boots.
an overshoe, especially one of rubber or other waterproof material.
His rain boots protect his dress shoes from the mud.
any sheathlike protective covering.
You can use a stiff piece of paper or foil as a boot for a damaged bicycle tire.
a protective covering for the foot and part of the leg of a horse.
a protecting cover or apron for the driver's seat of an open vehicle.
the receptacle into which the top of a convertible car fits when lowered, or the cloth covering for it.
British.the trunk of an automobile.
The spare tire's in the boot.
a kick.
Slang.the boot, a dismissal; discharge.
They gave him the boot for coming in late.
Computers.an act or instance of starting up a computer or program.
a rubber covering for the connection between each spark-plug terminal and ignition cable in an automotive ignition system.
Also called Denver boot.a metal device attached to the wheel of a parked car so that it cannot be driven away until a fine is paid or the owner reports to the police: used by police to catch scofflaws.
an instrument of torture for the leg, consisting of a kind of vise extending from the knee to the ankle, tightened around the leg by means of screws.
U.S. Navy, Marines.a recruit.
Music.the box that holds the reed in the reed pipe of an organ.
Informal.a sensation of pleasure or amusement.
Watching that young skater win a gold medal gave me a real boot.
Baseball.a fumble of a ball batted on the ground, usually to the infield.
verb (used with object)
to kick; drive by kicking.
The boy booted a tin can down the street.
Football.to kick.
Baseball.to fumble (a ground ball).
Computers.
to start (a computer) by loading and initializing the operating system (often followed byup ).
I can't do that on my tablet so I'll have to boot up my desktop.
to start (a program) by loading the first few instructions, which will then bring in the rest (often followed byup ).
Slang.to expel; discharge.
They booted him out of school for selling drugs.
to put boots on; equip or provide with boots.
to attach a Denver boot to.
Police will boot any car with unpaid fines.
to torture with a vise tightened around the leg by means of screws.
verb (used without object)
Computers.to start a computer or program, or be started in this way (often followed byup ).
My laptop won't boot and shows a blank screen.
boot
2[boot]
noun
Archaic.something given into the bargain.
Obsolete.
advantage.
remedy; relief; help.
verb (used with or without object)
Archaic.to be of profit, advantage, or avail (to).
It boots thee not to complain.
boot
3[boot]
noun
booty; spoil; plunder.
boot
1/ ː /
noun
a strong outer covering for the foot; shoe that extends above the ankle, often to the knee See also chukka boot top boot Wellington boots surgical boot
US and Canadian name: trunk.an enclosed compartment of a car for holding luggage, etc, usually at the rear
a protective covering over a mechanical device, such as a rubber sheath protecting a coupling joining two shafts
a rubber patch used to repair a puncture in a tyre
an instrument of torture used to crush the foot and lower leg
a protective covering for the lower leg of a horse
a kick
he gave the door a boot
slangan ugly person (esp in the phrase old boot )
slanga navy or marine recruit, esp one in training
computing short for bootstrap
to be certain
you can bet your boots he'll come
See boots and all
to die while still active
to die in battle
to be servile, obsequious, or flattering towards
slang
to kick a person, esp when he or she is already down
to harass someone or aggravate a problem
to finish off (something) with unnecessary brutality
slangdismissal from employment; the sack
the situation is or has now reversed
self-important or conceited
verb
(tr) (esp in football) to kick
(tr) to equip with boots
informal(tr)
(often foll by out) to eject forcibly
to dismiss from employment
Also: boot up.to start up the operating system of (a computer) or (of a computer) to begin operating
boot
2/ ː /
verb
archaicto be of advantage or use to (a person)
what boots it to complain?
noun
obsoletean advantage
dialectsomething given in addition, esp to equalize an exchange
a ten pound boot to settle the bargain
as well; in addition
it's cold and musty, and damp to boot
Word History and Origins
Origin of boot1
Origin of boot2
Word History and Origins
Origin of boot1
Origin of boot2
Idioms and Phrases
boots on the ground,
troops or forces who are physically present in a military campaign, law enforcement operation, or the like.
Will NATO put boots on the ground to enforce the agreement?
people who are physically present to carry out work.
Some of our volunteers work online, and others work as boots on the ground in several locations.
die with one's boots on, Also die in one's boots.
to die while actively engaged in one's work, profession, etc.
to die fighting, especially in battle, or in some worthy cause.
bet one's boots, to be sure or certain.
You can bet your boots I'll be there!
get a boot, to derive keen enjoyment.
I really got a boot out of his ridiculous stories.
to boot, in addition; besides.
We received an extra week's pay to boot.
Example Sentences
He said he will enjoy "a couple of quiet ones" to celebrate and was filmed giving his boots to a Bath fan in the Twickenham stands after the game.
He now goes through one pair of sturdy walking boots every year.
Out of all the guys in the crowd, there was just something about him and his tight jeans, his boots and his cowboy hat.
They really had me in sort of like a boot camp, and luckily I took to it.
They have big boots to fill, but follow tracks that have taken British skiing to a whole new level.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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