bootstrap

Meanings

Plural: bootstraps

Noun

• a strap that is looped and sewn to the top of a boot for pulling it on
• A loop (leather or other material) sewn at the side or top rear of a boot to help in pulling the boot on.
• A means of advancing oneself or accomplishing something without aid.
• The process by which the operating system of a computer is loaded into its memory.
• The process necessary to compile the tools that will be used to compile the rest of the system or program.
• Any method or instance of estimating properties of an estimator (such as its variance) by measuring those properties when sampling from an approximating distribution.

Verb

• help oneself, often through improvised means
• To help (oneself) without the aid of others.
• To load the operating system into the memory of a computer. Usually shortened to boot.
• To compile the tools that will be used to compile the rest of a system or program.
• To build or put together (something) by first building or putting together the tools, building blocks, ideas, etc., necessary to build (the thing).
• To employ a bootstrap method.
• To expand or advance an activity or a collection based solely on previous actions, work, findings, etc.

Related Words

booting, cold boot, reboot