bootstrap
1 of 3noun
boot·strap ˈbüt-ˌstrap 
1
: a looped strap sewed at the side or the rear top of a boot to help in pulling it on
2
bootstraps plural : unaided efforts —often used in the phrase by one's own bootstraps
bootstrap
2 of 3adjective
1
: designed to function independently of outside direction : capable of using one internal function or process to control another
a bootstrap operation to load a computer
2
: carried out with minimum resources or advantages
bootstrap efforts
bootstrap
3 of 3verb
bootstrapped; bootstrapping
transitive verb
: to promote or develop by initiative and effort with little or no assistance
bootstrapped herself to the top
… turns out to be pretty talented at identifying and bootstrapping promising creative endeavors.
Harry McCracken
Harry McCracken bootstrapper noun
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web A.j. Herrington, Forbes, 16 May 2022 These bootstrap CDAOs combine critical thinking, business acumen, and a solid understanding of problem-solving and decision-making using data. Joel Shapiro, Forbes, 22 June 2022 With such accolades, this bootstrap mentality then asks us to continue selling these myths to others, to use our story as evidence and encouragement for people on a similar journey. Giovanna Alcantar, refinery29.com, 14 June 2022 Tapas, which launched as a bootstrap startup in 2012, built a global audience that has racked up over 9.5 billion pageviews of 103,000 original series, mostly mobile-digital comics and light novels, primarily targeting young women age 18-24. Rob Salkowitz, Forbes, 19 May 2022 The same José Huizar once held up in Southern California political circles as a bootstrap success story, but who now serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of power. Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2022 As detailed above, some companies will fit neatly into a category or market dynamic that clearly dictates taking either the bootstrap or venture route. Bill Fahey, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2021 Operating on bootstrap financing, ED Times is keen on expanding its social media presence. Mimansa Verma, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2021 In a bootstrap company, the founders retain the majority of the equity in the company. Bill Fahey, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2021 Peter Pezaris, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2022 Anywhere leverages Tinkerbell to bootstrap the bare metal infrastructure to a point where Kubernetes can be installed. Janakiram Msv, Forbes, 6 July 2022 While large outdoor businesses hire public relations and marketing firms to do the heavy lifting, small outdoor businesses must be ready to bootstrap it. Alex Temblador, Outside Online, 30 Mar. 2021 There’s no correct way to bootstrap a business, go with your instinct and ignore the naysayers. Alison Coleman, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2022 Not everyone can bootstrap their business, and not every business should be bootstrapped. Carl Rodrigues, Forbes, 13 May 2022 Seek investment and go big to go home or bootstrap your way to success? Jodie Cook, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2022 Brown left her 20-year corporate career in healthcare and insurance to bootstrap the company’s first 18 month. Bruce Rogers, Forbes, 26 Apr. 2022 These platforms often have no choice but to deploy these considerable resources to incentivize growth in the form of nine, and sometimes ten-figure, incentive programs to bootstrap growth and development. Steven Ehrlich, Forbes, 22 Apr. 2022 See More
Noun
The legal market in our state needs a real bootstrap approach from our state. A.j. Herrington, Forbes, 16 May 2022 These bootstrap CDAOs combine critical thinking, business acumen, and a solid understanding of problem-solving and decision-making using data. Joel Shapiro, Forbes, 22 June 2022 With such accolades, this bootstrap mentality then asks us to continue selling these myths to others, to use our story as evidence and encouragement for people on a similar journey. Giovanna Alcantar, refinery29.com, 14 June 2022 Tapas, which launched as a bootstrap startup in 2012, built a global audience that has racked up over 9.5 billion pageviews of 103,000 original series, mostly mobile-digital comics and light novels, primarily targeting young women age 18-24. Rob Salkowitz, Forbes, 19 May 2022 The same José Huizar once held up in Southern California political circles as a bootstrap success story, but who now serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of power. Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2022 As detailed above, some companies will fit neatly into a category or market dynamic that clearly dictates taking either the bootstrap or venture route. Bill Fahey, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2021 Operating on bootstrap financing, ED Times is keen on expanding its social media presence. Mimansa Verma, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2021 In a bootstrap company, the founders retain the majority of the equity in the company. Bill Fahey, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2021 Verb
Today’s founders are in a better position to bootstrap their business than those of us who launched companies 20 years ago. Peter Pezaris, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2022 Anywhere leverages Tinkerbell to bootstrap the bare metal infrastructure to a point where Kubernetes can be installed. Janakiram Msv, Forbes, 6 July 2022 While large outdoor businesses hire public relations and marketing firms to do the heavy lifting, small outdoor businesses must be ready to bootstrap it. Alex Temblador, Outside Online, 30 Mar. 2021 There’s no correct way to bootstrap a business, go with your instinct and ignore the naysayers. Alison Coleman, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2022 Not everyone can bootstrap their business, and not every business should be bootstrapped. Carl Rodrigues, Forbes, 13 May 2022 Seek investment and go big to go home or bootstrap your way to success? Jodie Cook, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2022 Brown left her 20-year corporate career in healthcare and insurance to bootstrap the company’s first 18 month. Bruce Rogers, Forbes, 26 Apr. 2022 These platforms often have no choice but to deploy these considerable resources to incentivize growth in the form of nine, and sometimes ten-figure, incentive programs to bootstrap growth and development. Steven Ehrlich, Forbes, 22 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
boot entry 3 + strap entry 1
Adjective
from attributive use of bootstrap entry 1
Verb
derivative of bootstrap entry 1 or bootstrap entry 2
First Known Use
Noun
1875, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
1926, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1951, in the meaning defined above
- pair (someone) up with (someone)
- pair of colors
- pair of compasses
- pair of hands
- pair of pantyhose
- pair of spectacles
- pair of virginals
- pair off
- pair production
- pair royal
- pair someone up with someone
- pair up
- pair up with
- pair-bond
- pair-bonding
- pair-horse
- pair-oar
- pair-oared
- pairage
- paired
- paired off
- paired up
- paired-associate learning
- pairer
- pairing