From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Booster \Boost"er\ (b[=oo]st"[~e]r), n.
1. (Elec.) An instrument for regulating the electro-motive
force in an alternating-current circuit; -- so called
because used to "boost", or raise, the pressure in the
circuit.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
2. an enthusiastic supporter.
[PJC]
3. the first stage of a multistage rocket, providing all or
part of the driving force at lift-off and until the second
stage ignites, whether or not the booster stage is
detached after the fuel is spent. Also called {booster
rocket}. In some cases, a booster has been used to assist
the takeoff of airplanes.
[PJC]
4. (Med.) an immunizing medication given after an initial
immunizing treatment, to provide increased or extended
immunity. Also called {booster dose}. When in the form of
an injection, it may be called a {booster shot}.
[PJC]
5. any auxiliary device or part of a device to provide
increased power, force, or effectiveness, as with a
pumping device.
[PJC]
6. (Mil.) an explosive charge which is more powerful than a
primer, used in conjunction with a primer to assure
detonation of the main charge. Integrated blasting caps
containing separate compartments for primer and booster
are used as detonators for certain explosives.
[PJC]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
booster
n 1: a person who backs a politician or a team etc.; "all their
supporters came out for the game"; "they are friends of the
library" [syn: {supporter}, {protagonist}, {champion},
{admirer}, {booster}, {friend}]
2: someone who is an active supporter and advocate [syn:
{promoter}, {booster}, {plugger}]
3: a thief who steals goods that are in a store [syn: {booster},
{shoplifter}, {lifter}]
4: an amplifier for restoring the strength of a transmitted
signal [syn: {booster}, {booster amplifier}, {booster
station}, {relay link}, {relay station}, {relay transmitter}]
5: the first stage of a multistage rocket [syn: {booster},
{booster rocket}, {booster unit}, {takeoff booster}, {takeoff
rocket}]
6: an additional dose that makes sure the first dose was
effective [syn: {booster}, {booster dose}, {booster shot},
{recall dose}]
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