booster

American  

[boo-ster] / ˈbu stər /

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. Also called booster shot.  Also called booster dose,.  Medicine/Medical. 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.

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booster British  

/ ˈbuːstə /

noun

1. a person or thing that supports, assists, or increases power or effectiveness

2. Also called: launch 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. another name for supercharger

5. short for booster dose

6. slang a shoplifter

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booster Scientific  

/ 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.

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Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

• boosterish adjective

Etymology

Origin of booster

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

Example Sentences

Our in-house gadget gurus offer up their top gift ideas, from productivity boosters to gaming.

From The Wall Street Journal

Many of the leading boosters of the Golden Dome represent states like Alabama or districts that stand to benefit from the program.

From Salon

This was six months after participants received the third yearly booster dose of the vaccine candidate under development, called VLA15.

From The Wall Street Journal

At the time, Blue Origin was trailing SpaceX, which by then had demonstrated an ability to land its rocket boosters—a key step toward making space travel more economically viable.

From The Wall Street Journal

The internet turned out to be more transformative than skeptics allowed, yet its effects on jobs arrived slower and in more unexpected places than boosters forecast.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• backer
• enthusiast
• patron
• promoter