bootstrap.

1. A process that starts a more complete system from a minimal initial program or set of resources.

2. A loop or strap on a boot that can be pulled to help put it on.

3. A method of estimating statistical uncertainty by repeatedly resampling observed data to create additional sample sets.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• a bootstrap loader
• the bootstrap process

On the page

The bootstrap loader ran before the station’s main interface appeared.

A damaged bootstrap process left the console unable to reach its diagnostic menu.

Usage notes

Primary category: sci-fi. Forms: Singular bootstrap; plural bootstraps. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Third-person singular: bootstraps.