From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishbolsterbol‧ster1 /ˈbəʊlstə $ ˈboʊlstər/ ●○○ (also bolster up) verb [transitive] 1 HELPto help someone to feel better and more positive SYN boost He is making a bold attempt to bolster the territory’s confidence.2 SUPPORT A PERSON, GROUP, OR PLANto improve something SYN boost his efforts to bolster his career→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
bolster• Timman needs to win a game to bolster his confidence.• Meanwhile, Ezra's secret career as a pornographer is bolstering his self-confidence and libido, stoking passion between him and Carol.• James Hogg in 1894 called for creation of the railroad to bolster prison operations.• New camera and film technology will bolster the company's market share.• Additional soldiers were sent to bolster the defenses at two naval bases.• The need for stronger, religion-based morality and patriotism to bolster the nation.• The attempt to bolster the pay claim with the fear of closures failed.• None the less, an improved second half performance will bolster their confidence for next week's Division 2 crunch game against Ballymena.• He accused Kremlin hawks of a conspiracy to keep the war going to bolster their own power and thwart his ambitions.• But several factors bolster their position.• He was seventy and continually engaged in frenetic schemes to bolster up his old age.bolsterbolster2 noun [countable] a long firm pillow, usually shaped like a tubeExamples from the Corpus
bolster• She bunches her raincoat like a bolster to make herself more comfortable.• With the exact position established, the outline can be scored with sharp blows from a club hammer and bolster chisel.Origin bolster2 Old English 