booster

[ boo-ster ]

noun

1. a person or thing that boosts, especially an energetic and enthusiastic supporter.
2. Electricity. a device connected in series with a current for increasing or decreasing the nominal circuit voltage.
3. Railroads. any machine, device, phenomenon, etc., that helps to move a train, as a tailwind, downgrade, roller bearings, or especially a helper locomotive.
4. Military. an explosive more powerful than a primer, for ensuring the detonation of the main charge of a shell.
5. Rocketry.
   1. a rocket engine used as the principal source of thrust in the takeoff of a rocket or missile.
   2. the first stage containing this engine and its fuel supply, which may or may not be detached from the rocket when the fuel has been consumed.
6. Medicine/Medical. Also called booster dose,. a dose of an immunizing substance given to maintain or renew the effect of a previous one.
7. Pharmacology. a chemical compound, medicinal substance, or the like, that serves as a synergist.
8. a radio-frequency amplifier for connecting between a radio or television antenna and the receiving set to intensify the received signal.
9. an auxiliary pump, used in a pipeline or other system, to add to or maintain a prevailing amount of pressure or vacuum.
10. Slang. a shoplifter or petty thief.

booster

/ ˈbuːstə /

noun

1. a person or thing that supports, assists, or increases power or effectiveness
2. Also calledlaunch vehicle the first stage of a multistage rocket
3. radio television
   1. a radio-frequency amplifier connected between an aerial and a receiver to amplify weak incoming signals
   2. a radio-frequency amplifier that amplifies incoming signals, retransmitting them at higher power
4. See supercharger
   another name for supercharger
5. See booster dose
   short for booster dose
6. slang.
   a shoplifter

booster

/ bo̅o̅′stər /

1. An additional dose of an immunizing agent, such as a vaccine or toxoid, given at a time period of weeks to years after the initial dose to sustain the immune response elicited by the first dose. Tetanus, diphtheria, and measles vaccines are commonly given in booster doses.

Other Words From

• boost·er·ish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of booster¹

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90; boost + -er ¹

Example Sentences

The Falcon 9 used for this launch is a rarity these days – a brand new vehicle, including a booster being used for the first time.

From TechCrunch

It also held a fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, offered grants to local organizations and even funded its own booster group.

From ProPublica

Following the automated abort of the rocket at T-7 seconds, both the booster and its valuable National Reconnaissance Office payload were said to be safe.

From Ars Technica

He left Louisville early after being accused of using a Honda Accord given to his father by a booster.

From FiveThirtyEight

Because the body may develop antibodies to the adenovirus carrying the spike protein, a booster shot with that same virus might be rendered useless.

From Science News

The key family of molecules that lead many to look to fish oil as a brain booster are the omega-3 fatty acids.

From The Daily Beast

The Benefits of Cheating Cheat days are often thought of as being strictly a mind-booster.

From The Daily Beast

The lawyer was even a Cochran booster at one time: “I supported Thad in his first campaign in 1978, a while back.”

From The Daily Beast

There is a set of booster vaccines at about kindergarten age, with a little bit of variation from practice to practice.

From The Daily Beast

I saw it as an investment for myself, so it is definitely a confidence booster and something that really helps build self-esteem.

From The Daily Beast

He was a booster and a joiner, but behind all of his activities was a wistful wonder as to what life holds.

From Project Gutenberg

Touch-the-button-Nell was talking to a tall fair-moustached man whom I recognised as a black-jack booster.

From Project Gutenberg

The ship's rockets thrust again—and the booster-circuit came into play.

From Project Gutenberg

We were sixty light-years away when that booster effect died out.

From Project Gutenberg

The forward-impact delivered by the Ganeth-Klae booster was terrific, and nausea and vertigo struck us all simultaneously.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• backer
• enthusiast
• patron
• promoter

More About Booster Shot

What is a booster shot?

A booster shot is an additional dose of a vaccine given to a person in order to maintain or renew the effect of a previous dose. This is sometimes called a booster dose (especially since vaccines aren’t always given via shots) or simply a booster.

Vaccines strengthen the body’s immunity against disease. They work by introducing a killed, weakened, or otherwise modified version of a specific disease (such as a virus or bacterium) so that the body’s immune system will produce antibodies that will destroy those specific pathogens if they ever enter the body again.

A booster shot basically refreshes the immune system’s memory of a disease in order to strengthen immunity—it “boosts” the existing defenses.

Booster shots are commonly given to both children and adults. Common vaccines that typically involve one or multiple booster shots include those against tetanus, hepatitis A, human papillomavirus (HPV), and measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). The timing of the booster shot varies depending on the vaccine—some are given a few months after the initial dose, while others are given years later. Medical organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide immunization schedules that recommend the frequency of booster shots.

News

Booster shots were a common topic of discussion in 2021 in the context of vaccination against the COVID-19 virus, especially after the emergence and spread of the more contagious Delta variant. Notably, the CEO of Pfizer, one of the companies that produced COVID-19 vaccines, said that it was likely that people would need COVID-19 booster shots to protect against mutations of the virus. Early data appeared to show that an additional dose significantly strengthened immunity. In July 2021, the CDC and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a joint statement noting that the agencies were reviewing whether COVID-19 booster shots would be necessary, while also stating that they were not required at the time.