/boohst/ , v.t.
1. to lift or raise by pushing from behind or below.
2. to advance or aid by speaking well of; promote: She always boosts her hometown.
3. to increase; raise: to boost prices; to boost the horsepower of the car by 20 percent.
4. Slang. to steal, esp. to shoplift: Two typewriters were boosted from the office last night.
v.i.
5. Slang. to engage in stealing, esp. shoplifting.
n.
6. an upward shove or raise; lift.
7. an increase; rise: There's been a tremendous boost in food prices.
8. an act, remark, or the like, that helps one's progress, morale, efforts, etc.: His pep talk was the boost our team needed.
[ 1805-15, Amer.; perh. Scots dial. boose (var. of pouss PUSH) + (HOI)ST ]
Syn. 7. hike, growth, upsurge, upswing, uptick.