bootstrap: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, Technical (Computing), Business
Quick answer
What does “bootstrap” mean?
A physical loop or tab on a boot, used to help pull it on.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A physical loop or tab on a boot, used to help pull it on.
To improve or develop oneself or a situation by one's own efforts, often starting with very little; in computing, a self-starting process to load an operating system or application.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling and usage are identical. The computing term is universal. The metaphorical 'pull oneself up by one's bootstraps' idiom is equally common in both varieties.
Connotations
Positive connotations of self-reliance, initiative, and ingenuity in business/start-up contexts. Can have slightly negative connotations in socio-economic discussions, implying unrealistic expectations of overcoming systemic barriers.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English in business/entrepreneurial contexts (e.g., 'bootstrapped startup'). Computing sense is equally frequent.
Grammar
How to Use “bootstrap” in a Sentence
to bootstrap oneself (into/out of something)to bootstrap a system/companyto be bootstrapped (adjective)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bootstrap” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They managed to bootstrap the company using only their savings.
- The system will bootstrap from the recovery partition.
American English
- We bootstrapped the startup from my garage.
- You need to bootstrap the server after the update.
adverb
British English
- The business was built bootstrap, which made growth slower but more controlled.
American English
- They grew the company bootstrap, reinvesting every penny of profit.
adjective
British English
- It was a classic bootstrap operation with no outside investors.
- The bootstrap process completed successfully.
American English
- She's the epitome of a bootstrap entrepreneur.
- Check the bootstrap configuration file.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to starting and growing a company with minimal external capital, relying on personal finances and revenue.
Academic
Used in sociology/economics to critique the 'bootstrap' narrative of social mobility. In statistics, 'bootstrapping' is a resampling method.
Everyday
Used metaphorically for self-improvement or solving a problem using only available resources.
Technical
Computing: the process of loading the basic software into a computer's memory after power-on.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bootstrap”
- Using 'bootstrap' as a noun for a person (e.g., 'He is a bootstrap' is incorrect).
- Confusing 'bootstrapped' (self-funded) with 'bootleg' (illegally made).
- Misspelling as 'boot-strap' or 'boot strap'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is standard as one word (bootstrap), though the original physical object was 'a boot strap'. The hyphenated form 'boot-strap' is now rare.
Both are metaphors from the physical boot strap. The idiom describes an impossible act (lifting oneself). Computing pioneers humorously named the self-loading process 'bootstrapping' because the computer must 'pull itself up' without external software.
Yes. In socio-political discourse, telling someone to 'pull themselves up by their bootstraps' can be criticised as dismissive of systemic barriers like poverty or discrimination.
It is a popular, open-source front-end framework (library) for designing websites. The name plays on the idea of helping a developer 'get started' quickly, using its pre-built components.
A physical loop or tab on a boot, used to help pull it on.
Bootstrap is usually informal, technical (computing), business in register.
Bootstrap: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbuːtstræp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbuːtˌstræp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “pull oneself up by one's bootstraps”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine pulling on a boot using its STRAP. Now imagine a company 'pulling itself up' using only its own resources (the strap), not a helping hand.
Conceptual Metaphor
SELF-IMPROVEMENT IS LIFTING ONESELF (impossible in physics, but a powerful cultural metaphor for achievement).
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, what does it mean if a startup is 'bootstrapped'?