Other

bolster1

Syllabification: (bol·ster)

Pronunciation: /ˈbōlstər/

Definition of bolster

(also bolster pillow)

a long, thick pillow that is placed under other pillows for support.
a part of a vehicle or tool providing structural support.
Building a short timber cap over a post designed to increase the bearing of the beams it supports.

[with object]

support or strengthen; prop up:the fall in interest rates is starting to bolster confidence he wished to bolster up his theories with hard data
provide (a seat) with padded support: (as adjective bolstered)I snuggled down into the heavily bolstered seat

Origin:

Old English (in the sense 'long, thick pillow'), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bolster and German Polster

Definition of bolster in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

More results for bolster