boost

American  

[boost] / bust /

verb (used with object)

1. to lift or raise by pushing from behind or below.

2. to advance or aid by speaking well of; promote.

   She always boosts her hometown.

3. to increase; raise.

   to boost prices;

   to boost the horsepower of the car by 20 percent.

4. to administer a booster shot to.

   Have you and your family been boosted yet?

5. Slang. to steal, especially to shoplift.

   Two computers were boosted from the office last night.

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verb (used without object)

1. Slang. to engage in stealing, especially shoplifting.

noun

1. an upward shove or raise; lift.

2. an increase; rise.

   There's been a tremendous boost in food prices.

   Synonyms:

   uptick, upswing, upsurge, growth, hike

3. an act, remark, or the like, that helps one's progress, morale, efforts, etc..

   His pep talk was the boost our team needed.

boost British  

/ buːst /

noun

1. encouragement, improvement, or help

   a boost to morale

2. an upward thrust or push

   he gave him a boost over the wall

3. an increase or rise

   a boost in salary

4. a publicity campaign; promotion

5. the amount by which the induction pressure of a supercharged internal-combustion engine exceeds that of the ambient pressure

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verb

1. to encourage, assist, or improve

   to boost morale

2. to lift by giving a push from below or behind

3. to increase or raise

   to boost the voltage in an electrical circuit

4. to cause to rise; increase

   to boost sales

5. to advertise on a big scale

6. to increase the induction pressure of (an internal-combustion engine) above that of the ambient pressure; supercharge

boost Scientific  

/ bo̅o̅st /

1. A linear map from one reference frame to another in which each coordinate is increased or decreased by an independent constant or linear function. A boost corresponds to a shift of the entire coordinate system without any rotation of its axes.

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Etymology

Origin of boost

An Americanism dating back to 1815–25; perhaps Scots dialect boose (variant of pouss push ) + (hoi)st

Example Sentences

The yen has come under pressure amid renewed concerns over fiscal discipline, before it rebounded amid rumours of a possible joint Japan–US monetary intervention to boost its value.

From Barron's

Chinese policymakers have made boosting domestic demand their top policy priority and vowed to crack down on “involution,” a buzzword for price wars and excessive competition.

From The Wall Street Journal

Elezi Cannaferina's first World Cup podium boosts his chances of securing the final berth for the French team at the Olympics which get underway on February 6.

From Barron's

“The storm itself is likely to slow activity between producers and distribution points,” Pettinari wrote on Monday, “but contractor activity should pick up when the storm passes, boosting distributor out-the-door sales.”

From Barron's

While many loyal customers lament the loss of open seating, Southwest has been under pressure from investors to boost profitability.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• addition
• advance
• breakthrough
• expansion
• hike
• improvement
• increment
• jump
• lift
• rise