1. started or built something using only one’s own resources without external help or funding
Usage: business; computing
2. started up a computer system by loading the operating system
Usage: computing; technical

Examples

• She bootstrapped her company with just $5,000 from her savings account.
• The entrepreneur bootstrapped his startup without any venture capital.
• They bootstrapped the entire operation from their garage.
• The computer automatically bootstrapped when we turned it on.
• He bootstrapped his way to success through hard work and determination.
• The server needs to be bootstrapped after the power outage.
• Many successful businesses were bootstrapped in their early days.