Množina: boosters
1. A thief who steals goods that are on display in a store; SYN. shoplifter.
2. An additional dose that makes sure the first dose was effective; SYN. booster dose, booster shot, recall dose.
3. The first stage of a multistage rocket; SYN. booster rocket, booster unit, multistage rocket, takeoff booster, takeoff rocket.
First-stage rocket of a space-launching vehicle, or an additional rocket strapped to the main rocket to assist takeoff.
The US Delta rocket, for example, has a cluster of nine strap-on boosters that fire on lift off. Europe's Ariane 3 rocket uses twin strap-on boosters, as does the US space shuttle.