Library / English Dictionary

BOOTLEG

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected forms: bootlegged    , bootlegging   

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The part of a boot above the instep

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("bootleg" is a kind of...):

covering (an artifact that covers something else (usually to protect or shelter or conceal it))

Holonyms ("bootleg" is a part of...):

boot (footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Whiskey illegally distilled from a corn mash

Synonyms:

bootleg; corn liquor; moonshine

Classified under:

Nouns denoting foods and drinks

Hypernyms ("bootleg" is a kind of...):

corn; corn whiskey; corn whisky (whiskey distilled from a mash of not less than 80 percent corn)

Derivation:

bootleg (produce or distribute illegally)

bootleg (sell illicit products such as drugs or alcohol)

 II. (adjective) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Distributed or sold illicitly

Example:

the black economy pays no taxes

Synonyms:

black; black-market; bootleg; contraband; smuggled

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

illegal (prohibited by law or by official or accepted rules)

 III. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Produce or distribute illegally

Example:

bootleg tapes of the diva's singing

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "bootleg" is one way to...):

create; make; produce (create or manufacture a man-made product)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

bootleg (whiskey illegally distilled from a corn mash)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Sell illicit products such as drugs or alcohol

Example:

They were bootlegging whiskey

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Hypernyms (to "bootleg" is one way to...):

sell (exchange or deliver for money or its equivalent)

Domain category:

crime; criminal offence; criminal offense; law-breaking ((criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

bootleg (whiskey illegally distilled from a corn mash)

bootlegger (someone who makes or sells illegal liquor)

Credits