Boot Meaning

UK /buːt/
US /buːt/
Word Definition
boot meaning

Boot Definition & Usage

noun

A type of sturdy footwear that covers the foot and ankle, often extending up to the knee or higher, designed for protection or outdoor use.

Examples

  • "He slipped on his boots before heading out into the snowstorm."
  • "The hiker wore durable leather boots for the long trek through the mountains."
  • "After the flood, the workers wore rubber boots to avoid stepping in contaminated water."
  • "She polished her new pair of high-heeled boots before going out for the night."
  • "Military personnel are often required to wear combat boots during field exercises."
noun

The process of starting a computer or other electronic device, typically by loading its operating system from storage.

Examples

  • "The computer took longer to boot because the hard drive was nearly full."
  • "He pressed the power button to boot up the laptop."
  • "Make sure the device is connected to a power source before attempting to boot."
  • "The system was not responding, so I had to reboot it."
  • "The server is down, it won’t boot up until the IT team checks it."
verb

To start a computer or device by loading its operating system or initiating its startup process.

Examples

  • "It took a while for the system to boot after the update."
  • "I can't boot my phone after dropping it in the water."
  • "He tried to boot the laptop using a USB drive with the installation files."
  • "Can you boot up the server remotely for me?"
  • "The program won't boot without an internet connection."
verb

To kick or push something forcefully, often used metaphorically to describe ejecting someone or something.

Examples

  • "The bouncer booted the troublemakers out of the club."
  • "He was booted off the team for repeatedly breaking the rules."
  • "After the argument, she booted him out of the house."
  • "The company decided to boot the outdated software from their system."
  • "I booted my old phone after it kept freezing and lagging."

Cultural Context

The word 'boot' originates from the Old French 'bote', derived from Latin 'botta', which means 'trunk' or 'box'. It has been used in the context of footwear since the 14th century, and its use in technology, especially computers, emerged in the 20th century with the advent of electronic devices.

The Great Boot-Off

Story

The Great Boot-Off

It was the day of the annual adventure race, and the competitors were all lined up, their boots shining in the early morning light. A group of five friends had spent weeks preparing for the event, and they were eager to show off their skills. As the starting horn blared, they ran, their heavy boots pounding the dirt trail. There was no time to lose, as the race was notoriously grueling, and the first to cross the finish line would win a grand prize: a pair of custom-designed boots made for the toughest conditions. Meanwhile, in the tech booth, another race was about to begin. The team had been tasked with getting the newly installed servers up and running for the event. As they sat around the computers, fingers poised over the keys, one of the technicians sighed, 'We’re going to need to boot these machines from scratch if we want them to work.' The countdown to the race started, and the techs frantically typed, hoping their systems would boot in time. Back on the trail, the friends were struggling, but their boots helped them grip the rocky terrain. They joked about how their boots were 'kicking' the competition, even as the first person began to fall behind. In the final stretch, one of the friends tripped and was knocked out of the race, only to hear the news from the event organizer: 'You’ve been booted from the race, but don’t worry, there’s always next year.' In the end, the race was decided not by speed, but by resilience—the boots, after all, had carried each runner through thick and thin. It was a reminder that whether you're in a tech bootcamp or a muddy trail, the key to success was always in your footwear.

The Great Boot-Off