Definition

1. Noun:

   • A type of footwear: A sturdy item of clothing worn on the foot and lower leg, typically made of leather or rubber and offering protection or support.
   • The trunk of a car: (Chiefly British) The enclosed storage compartment at the rear of a car.
   • A forceful kick: The act of striking something with the foot.
   • A dismissive action: (Informal) An act of dismissal from a job or situation.
   • An instrument of torture: (Historical) A device used to crush the foot and leg.

2. Verb:

   • To kick: To strike or propel something with the foot.
   • To start a computer: To cause a computer to load its operating system and become ready for use.
   • To dismiss or eject: (Informal) To force someone to leave a place or job.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • She bought a new pair of leather boots for hiking. (Footwear)
  • Please put the groceries in the boot. (Car compartment)
  • He gave the door a hard boot to open it. (A kick)
  • After the mistake, he got the boot from the company. (Dismissal)

• Verb:

  • The player booted the ball down the field. (To kick)
  • You need to boot the computer before you can use it. (To start a computer)
  • The bouncer booted the troublemaker out of the club. (To eject)

Advanced Usage

• "to boot": (Adverbial phrase) In addition; as well.

  • The hotel was luxurious and centrally located to boot.

• "the boot is on the other foot": (Idiom) The situation is now reversed; the person who was in a position of advantage or blame is now in the opposite position.

  • He used to criticize others for being late, but now the boot is on the other foot.

Variants and Related Words

• Bootable (adj): (Computing) Capable of being used to start a computer system.

  • Make sure you have a bootable USB drive.

• Bootleg (adj/n/v): Refers to something made, distributed, or sold illegally, especially recorded music or alcohol.

  • They were selling bootleg copies of the concert.

Synonyms

• Noun (Footwear): Wellington, galosh, wader.
• Verb (Kick): Punt, hoof.
• Verb (Dismiss): Fire, sack, eject.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Boot up: To start a computer.

  • It takes a minute for my laptop to boot up.

• Boot out: To force someone to leave a place or job; to eject.

  • The landlord booted out the tenants for not paying rent.

Related Idioms

• Give someone the boot: To dismiss or fire someone.

  • The manager gave him the boot for constant lateness.

• Too big for one's boots: Arrogant or conceited.

  • Ever since he got promoted, he's been too big for his boots.

Noun

1. the act of delivering a blow with the foot
   • he gave the ball a powerful kick
   • the team's kicking was excellent
2. a form of foot torture in which the feet are encased in iron and slowly crushed
3. an instrument of torture that is used to heat or crush the foot and leg
4. protective casing for something that resembles a leg
5. the swift release of a store of affective force
   • they got a great bang out of it
   • what a boot!
   • he got a quick rush from injecting heroin
   • he does it for kicks
6. British term for the luggage compartment in a car
7. footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg

Verb

1. cause to load (an operating system) and start the initial processes
   • boot your computer
2. kick; give a boot to