Phrase guide

boot sector

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A dedicated sector, usually at the beginning (first sector on first track) of a storage medium, that holds special data used to start a system.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

Examples

  • Some systems use a boot block of several physical sectors, while some use only one boot sector. Other manufacturers use the terms "boot block" and "boot sector" interchangeably.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From boot + sector.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 啟動磁區 /启动磁区 (qǐdòng cíqū) — segment of a storage medium that holds data used to boot
  • Finnish: käynnistyssektori — segment of a storage medium that holds data used to boot
  • French: secteur d’amorçage — segment of a storage medium that holds data used to boot
  • French: boot sector — segment of a storage medium that holds data used to boot
  • French: secteur de boot — segment of a storage medium that holds data used to boot
  • German: Bootsektor — segment of a storage medium that holds data used to boot
  • Russian: загрузочный сектор (zagruzočnyj sektor) — segment of a storage medium that holds data used to boot