Definitions
1.NounA loop (leather or other material) sewn at the side or top rear of a boot to help in pulling the boot on.
2.NounA means of advancing oneself or accomplishing something without aid."He used his business experience as a bootstrap to win voters."
3.NounThe process by which the operating system of a computer is loaded into its memory.
4.NounThe process necessary to compile the tools that will be used to compile the rest of the system or program.
5.NounAny method or instance of estimating properties of an estimator (such as its variance) by measuring those properties when sampling from an approximating distribution.
6.VerbTo help (oneself) without the aid of others."Sam spent years bootstrapping himself through college."
7.VerbTo load the operating system into the memory of a computer. Usually shortened to boot.
8.VerbTo compile the tools that will be used to compile the rest of a system or program.
9.VerbTo build or put together (something) by first building or putting together the tools, building blocks, ideas, etc., necessary to build (the thing).
10.VerbTo employ a bootstrap method.
11.VerbTo expand or advance an activity or a collection based solely on previous actions, work, findings, etc.