noun

boot

/buːt/ · say it: boot

to start up a computer

In Technology & Computing

In more detail

1. (noun) a type of shoe that covers the foot and ankle, and often the lower leg

2. (noun) the storage space at the back of a car for luggage

3. (verb) to start up a computer or other electronic device

4. (verb) to kick something forcefully

Examples

1. She wore black leather boots in the winter.
2. We put our suitcases in the boot of the car.
3. I need to boot up my computer before I can work.

How to use boot

Boot as footwear refers to sturdy shoes extending above the ankle, commonly worn for outdoor activities or fashion. The car storage meaning is primarily British English; Americans typically say trunk. As a verb, boot up is standard computing terminology, while to boot someone means to eject or dismiss someone, often abruptly.

Common phrases

hiking boot
leather boot
pull on one's boots
boot camp
boot up a computer
give someone the boot

Synonyms

shoe · footwear · kick · start up

Opposites

shut down

Word family

boots (plural) · booted (adjective) · bootee (noun - baby's boot)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse the British boot (car storage) with the American trunk, and may use boot as a verb more broadly than it actually is used in computing contexts.

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