booster
[boo-ster]
- a person or thing that boosts, especially an energetic and enthusiastic supporter.
- Electricity. a device connected in series with a current for increasing or decreasing the nominal circuit voltage.
- Railroads. any machine, device, phenomenon, etc., that helps to move a train, as a tailwind, downgrade, roller bearings, or especially a helper locomotive.
- Military. an explosive more powerful than a primer, for ensuring the detonation of the main charge of a shell.
- Rocketry.
- a rocket engine used as the principal source of thrust in the takeoff of a rocket or missile.
- 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.
- Medicine/Medical. Also called booster dose, booster shot. a dose of an immunizing substance given to maintain or renew the effect of a previous one.
- Pharmacology. a chemical compound, medicinal substance, or the like, that serves as a synergist.
- a radio-frequency amplifier for connecting between a radio or television antenna and the receiving set to intensify the received signal.
- an auxiliary pump, used in a pipeline or other system, to add to or maintain a prevailing amount of pressure or vacuum.
- Slang. a shoplifter or petty thief.
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Origin of booster
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
booster dose
- a supplementary injection of a vaccine given to maintain the immunization provided by an earlier dose
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booster
- a person or thing that supports, assists, or increases power or effectiveness
- Also called: launch vehicle the first stage of a multistage rocket
- radio television
- a radio-frequency amplifier connected between an aerial and a receiver to amplify weak incoming signals
- a radio-frequency amplifier that amplifies incoming signals, retransmitting them at higher power
- another name for supercharger
- short for booster dose
- slang, mainly US a shoplifter
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for booster dose
booster
n.
1890, "one who boosts" something, agent noun from boost (v.). Electrical sense is recorded from 1894. Young child's booster chair is attested under that name from 1960.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
booster
(bōō′stər)- An additional dose of an immunizing agent, such as a vaccine or toxoid, given at a time after the initial dose to sustain the immune response elicited by the previous dose of the same agent.booster dose booster shot
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
booster
[bōō′stər]
- 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.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.