bolster

[bohl-ster]

noun

1. a long, often cylindrical, cushion or pillow for a bed, sofa, etc.

2. anything resembling this in form or in use as a support.

3. any pillow, cushion, or pad.

4. Nautical.

   1. Also called bolster plate. a circular casting on the side of a vessel, through which an anchor chain passes.

   2. a timber used as a temporary support.

   3. a beam for holding lines or rigging without chafing.

   4. a bag filled with buoyant material, fitted into a small boat.

5. Metalworking.,  an anvillike support for the lower die of a drop forge.

6. Masonry.

   1. a timber or the like connecting two ribs of a centering.

   2. a chisel with a blade splayed toward the edge, used for cutting bricks.

7. Carpentry.,  a horizontal timber on a post for lessening the free span of a beam.

8. a structural member on which one end of a bridge truss rests.

verb (used with object)

1. to support with or as with a pillow or cushion.

2. to add to, support, strengthen, or uphold (sometimes followed byup ).

   They bolstered their morale by singing.

   He bolstered up his claim with new evidence.

   Synonyms: fortify, reinforce, aid, sustain, strengthen

bolster

/ ˈbəʊlstə /

verb

1. (often foll by up) to support or reinforce; strengthen

   to bolster morale

2. to prop up with a pillow or cushion

3. to add padding to

   to bolster a dress

noun

1. a long narrow pillow or cushion

2. any pad or padded support

3. architect a short horizontal length of timber fixed to the top of a post to increase the bearing area and reduce the span of the supported beam

4. a cold chisel having a broad blade splayed towards the cutting edge, used for cutting stone slabs, etc

Other Word Forms

• bolsterer noun
• unbolster verb (used with object)
• bolstering noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bolster¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English bolstre (noun), Old English bolster; cognate with Old Norse bolstr, Dutch bolster, German Polster

Word History and Origins

Origin of bolster¹

Old English bolster ; related to Old Norse bolstr , Old High German bolstar , Dutch bulster

Synonym Study

See cushion.

Example Sentences

Berlin was initially skeptical of France’s argument that bolstering digital sovereignty meant supporting local providers—not just limiting how U.S. providers could use European data.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

William Smith scammed unsuspecting residents in Surrey and Sussex by overcharging them for roofing jobs, often causing further damage to their properties to bolster his original quote.

Read more on BBC

U.S.-listed securities of PDD have risen nearly 50% since a low in April, bolstered by broad positive sentiment on technology stocks.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The DMA is part of the European Union's bolstered legal armoury that seeks to make the digital sphere fairer with a list of do's and don'ts for Big Tech.

Read more on Barron's

The team’s central focus right now, of course, is on bolstering its roster and supplementing its star-studded core coming out of last week’s annual MLB general managers’ meetings in Las Vegas.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• aid 
• boost 
• buoy 
• buttress 
• cushion 
• help 
• maintain 
• reinforce 
• shore up 
• strengthen 
• support 
• sustain