boot

The word “boot” means a sturdy shoe that covers the foot and part of the leg. In plain terms, a sturdy shoe, the storage compartment of a car (UK), or, as a verb, to kick someone out or to start up a computer.

“Boot” is pronounced boot (/but/ in IPA).

Here is “boot” used in a sentence: “She pulled on her hiking boots before setting off.”

Words with a similar meaning to “boot” include buskin and mukluk.

Depending on how it is used, “boot” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “boot” comes from Old French. From Old French bote, "a high, thick shoe," of uncertain earlier origin. The computing sense of "boot" comes from "bootstrap" — the idea of a system pulling itself up "by its own bootstraps" to start running.

“Boot” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Boot” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a sturdy shoe that covers the foot and part of the leg.

Boot and trunk both name the luggage storage compartment of a car. Boot is the British English term and trunk is the American English equivalent, so the choice depends on which variety of English you are using.

A boot is a sturdy type of footwear that covers the foot and part of the leg, whereas a shoe generally stops at or below the ankle. The extra coverage up the leg is what distinguishes a boot from an ordinary shoe.

In everyday English, boot has two distinct senses: a sturdy shoe covering the foot and part of the leg, and, in British English, the luggage compartment of a car. Context makes clear which is meant, as the two uses are unrelated in meaning.