reboot
UK[ˌriːˈbuːt]US[ˌriːˈbuːt]
v
To start a computer again, often to fix a problem or install new software.
n
The process of starting a computer again.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
boot
re
again
boot
to start a computer
Etymology
The word "reboot" is a modern compound formed entirely within the English language, specifically in the field of computing. It combines the Latin-derived prefix "re-", meaning "again", with the clipped form "boot", a metaphorical term for starting a computer derived from "bootstrap". The logic is transparently literal: to "boot" a computer system once more. While its components have ancient origins, the specific combination and its current meaning are a 20th-century innovation, reflecting the need for a concise term to describe the common action of restarting an electronic system to clear errors or load new instructions.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + boot (to start a computer)
- re: A prefix of Latin origin meaning "again" or "back". In this word, it functions as an intensifier indicating repetition.
- boot: A clipping from the word "bootstrap", itself from the phrase "to pull oneself up by one's bootstraps". In computing, it refers to the process of starting up a computer system.
Examples
If the program freezes, try to reboot your computer.
The update will require a system reboot to complete installation.
Sometimes, the simplest fix for a technical glitch is to reboot the device.