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boot

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boot
I
boot1 S2 W3 /buːt/ noun [countable]
 Sense 1-3, 5-7
 Date: 1300-1400
 Language: Old French
 Origin: bote
 Sense 4
 Date: 1300-1400
 Language: Old English
 Origin: bot 'advantage, profit, use'

1. a type of shoe that covers your whole foot and the lower part of your leg ⇨ Wellington:
    hiking boots
    a pair of bootsrubber boot
2. British English an enclosed space at the back of a car, used for carrying bags etc
   SYN  trunk American English:
    The new model has a bigger boot.
3. the boot informal when someone is forced to leave their job
   SYN  the sack British Englishdismiss:
    The chairman denied that he had been given the boot.
    He should have got the boot years ago.
4. to boot in addition to everything else you have mentioned:
    She was a great sportswoman, and beautiful to boot.
5. put the boot in British English informal
  a. to criticize or be cruel to someone who is already in a bad situation
  b. to attack someone by kicking them repeatedly, especially when they are on the ground
6. the boot is on the other foot British English used to say someone who has caused problems for other people in the past is now in a situation in which people are causing problems for them
7. American English a metal object that the police attach to one of the wheels of an illegally parked car so that it cannot be moved
   SYN  wheel clamp British English
be/get too big for your boots at big1(14), ⇨ lick sb’s boots at lick1(7), ⇨ tough as old boots at tough1(2)
     
COLLOCATIONS
■ types of boots
    leather boots He bought some sturdy leather boots.
    wellington boots British English, rubber boots American English (=rubber boots that stop your feet and legs getting wet) The kids put on their rubber boots and went out in the rain.
    walking/hiking boots In the mountains you’ll need some strong walking boots.
    football/rugby/riding/ski boots Take your muddy football boots off before you come inside.
    ankle boots (=only as high as your ankles) Ankle boots are fashionable again this autumn.
    long boots (=as high as your knees or thighs) I bought a pair of long leather boots.
    knee-high boots She looked fabulous in a mini-skirt and knee-high boots.
■ phrases
    a pair of boots I really need a new pair of boots this winter.

II
boot2 verb
 Sense 1
 Date: 1900-2000
 Origin: bootstrap 'to boot up' (1900-2000), probably from bootstrap (noun); bootstraps
 Sense 2-3
 Date: 1800-1900
 Origin: boot1
1. (also boot up) [intransitive and transitive] to start the program that makes a computer ready to be used ⇨ load
2. [transitive] informal to kick someone or something hard
    boot something in/round/down etc
    The goalkeeper booted the ball upfield.
3. [transitive] American English to stop someone from moving their illegally parked vehicle by fixing a piece of equipment to one of the wheels
   SYN  clamp British English
     
boot somebody ↔ out phrasal verb informal
  to force someone to leave a place, job, or organization, especially because they have done something wrong
   SYN  throw out:
    His fellow students booted him out of the class.