bootstrap Definition
- 1a loop of leather or fabric on the back of a boot that is used to pull the boot on
- 2a self-starting process that is supposed to proceed without external input
- 3a method of starting a computer by loading the operating system from a disk
Using bootstrap: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "bootstrap" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
I need to replace the broken bootstrap on my hiking boots.
Example
The company's success was due in part to their ability to bootstrap their operations.
Example
The computer wouldn't turn on until I fixed the bootstrap issue.
bootstrap Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for bootstrap
- self-starting process
- self-sustaining process
- self-generating process
Phrases with bootstrap
to improve one's situation through hard work and self-determination
Example
Despite growing up in poverty, she was able to pull herself up by her bootstraps and become a successful businesswoman.
a paradox in which an object or information exists without any origin or cause, making it impossible to determine how it came to be
Example
The plot of the movie revolves around a bootstrap paradox, where a character receives a message from their future self but cannot determine who sent it originally.
a mindset focused on self-reliance and resourcefulness, often associated with entrepreneurship and innovation
Example
The startup's success was due in part to the founders' bootstrap mentality, which allowed them to overcome obstacles and find creative solutions to problems.
Origins of bootstrap
from the early 19th century, meaning 'to help (someone) into a saddle by means of a rope'
Summary: bootstrap in Brief
The term 'bootstrap' [ˈbuːtstræp] has multiple meanings, including a loop on the back of a boot used for pulling it on, a self-starting process that proceeds without external input, and a method of starting a computer by loading the operating system from a disk. The phrase 'pull oneself up by one's bootstraps' refers to improving one's situation through hard work and self-determination, while the 'bootstrap mentality' is a mindset focused on self-reliance and resourcefulness.
