Wiktionary

boost

English

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Etymology

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Unknown. The verb is first recorded 1815; the noun, 1825. Compare Scots boost (“to move; drive off; shoo away”), bost, boast (“to threaten; scold”), Middle English boosten, bosten (“to threaten”). Possible doublet of boast.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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boost (plural boosts)

  1. A push from behind, as to one who is endeavoring to climb.
  2. Something that helps, or adds power or effectiveness; assistance.
    The controversy gave a boost to the author's sales.
  3. (physics) A coordinate transformation that changes velocity.
  4. (automotive engineering) A positive intake manifold pressure in cars with turbochargers or superchargers.

Derived terms

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Translations

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Verb

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boost (third-person singular simple present boosts, present participle boosting, simple past and past participle boosted)

  1. (transitive) To lift or push from behind (one who is endeavoring to climb); to push up.
    • 2009, Richard L. Cave, Peace Keepers, page 39:
      Gaddis found that with his broken arm, he couldn't climb the wall. Josh grabbed his foot and boosted him up.
  2. (transitive, by extension) To help or encourage (something) to increase or improve; to assist in overcoming obstacles.
    This campaign will boost your chances of winning the election.
    • 2008 April 27, Ann Hulbert, “Drawing Lessons”, in The New York Times‎[1]:
      As unsatisfied with wafty promises that arts learning inspires “creativity” as with pledges that it boosts scores, the Project Zero researchers videotaped several very different classrooms in two schools with intensive arts instruction.
    • 2022 January 12, Tom Allett, “Network News: MPs concerned at Treasury's influence on rail industry”, in RAIL, number 948, page 13:
      More flak was aimed at the Treasury's apparent lack of marketing skills, when it was argued that its idea of how to sell tickets was along the lines of "you can get two tickets for the price of two", and it lacks the sales and promotional skills of the train operating companies which are needed to boost revenue.
    • 1910, The Gopher: Annual Publication of the Student Body of the University of Minnesota‎[2], volume 24, University of Minnesota, →OCLC, page 228:
      “ A god of blues . Have you got them , Doctor ? " " Boost him sir , boost him . “ ” “ He thinks ! Shall we let him ponder ? ” “ He only calls . What have you , Doctor ? Three ducks , ' tis yours . The Doctor pulls the wad without a ...
  3. (slang, transitive) To steal.
    • 1978, Harold J. Vetter, Ira J. Silverman, The Nature of Crime, page 296:
      It is not at all unusual or suspicious for a woman to spend a good deal of the day out shopping, and feminine clothing styles often make it relatively easy for a female shoplifter to conceal "boosted" merchandise on her person.
    • 2006, Noire [pseudonym], Thug-A-Licious: An Urban Erotic Tale, New York, N.Y.: One World, Ballantine Books, →ISBN, page 46:
      One time Noojie had to spend a weekend in jail for boosting and the four of us was left at the crib with Killer.
  4. (Canada, transitive) To jump-start a vehicle by using cables to connect the battery in a running vehicle to the battery in a vehicle that won't start.
    • 1980, Popular Mechanics, volume 154, number 4, page 152:
      It's easy to boost a dead battery, but this can be dangerous if it's done the wrong way.
    • 2004, Doug Mitchell, “how to connect for boost?”, in alt.autos.gm (Usenet):
      If I want to use the charged Montana battery to boost my old Summit where do I connect the negative cable on the good battery of the Montana?
    • 2010, Thomas Hurka, The Best Things in Life: A Guide to What Really Matters, page 121:
      Virtue is therefore like boosting one car battery from another: you want to connect positive to positive and negative to negative.
  5. (transitive, medicine) To give a booster shot to.
  6. (transitive, engineering) To amplify; to signal boost.

Usage notes

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Derived terms

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Translations

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The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked

Anagrams

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Dutch

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Etymology 1

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Pronunciation

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Adjective

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boost

  1. superlative degree of boos

Etymology 2

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Borrowed from English boost.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /bu(ː)st/
  • Hyphenation: boost
  • Rhymes: -ust

Noun

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boost m (plural boosts)

  1. a boost (impulse, stimulus, push)
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