boost

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

• intransitive verb To raise or lift by pushing up from below. synonym: lift.
• intransitive verb To increase; raise.
• intransitive verb To assist in further development or progress.
• intransitive verb To stir up enthusiasm for; promote vigorously.
• intransitive verb Electricity To increase the voltage of (a circuit).
• intransitive verb Slang To steal or rob, especially by shoplifting or pickpocketing.
• intransitive verb Slang To engage in stealing, especially shoplifting or pickpocketing.
• noun A push upward or ahead.
• noun An encouraging act or comment.
• noun An increase.

from The Century Dictionary.

• noun A Middle English form of boast.
• To lift or raise by pushing from behind, as a person climbing a tree; push up: often used figuratively: as, to boost a person over a fence, or into power.
• noun An upward shove or push; the act of boosting; the result of boosting; a lift, either literally or figuratively: as, to give one a boost.
• Same as buist.
• noun Same as boist.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

• noun Colloq. U. S. A push from behind, as to one who is endeavoring to climb; help.
• transitive verb Colloq. U. S. To lift or push from behind (one who is endeavoring to climb); to push up; hence, to assist in overcoming obstacles, or in making advancement.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

• noun A push from behind, as to one who is endeavoring to climb; help.
• noun automotive engineering A positive intake manifold pressure in cars with turbochargers or superchargers.
• verb To lift or push from behind (one who is endeavoring to climb); to push up; hence, to assist in overcoming obstacles, or in making advancement.
• verb slang To steal.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

• verb increase or raise
• verb increase
• verb give a boost to; be beneficial to
• verb contribute to the progress or growth of
• verb push or shove upward, as if from below or behind
• noun the act of giving hope or support to someone
• noun the act of giving a push
• noun an increase in cost