boil
1 of 3verb
ˈbȯi(-ə)l 
boiled; boiling; boils
intransitive verb
1
a
: to come to the boiling point
b
: to generate bubbles of vapor when heated —used of a liquid
c
: to cook in boiling water
2
: to become agitated : seethe
3
: to be moved, excited, or stirred up
4
a
: to rush headlong
b
: to burst forth
5
: to undergo the action of a boiling liquid
transitive verb
1
: to subject to the action of a boiling liquid
2
: to heat to the boiling point
3
: to form or separate (something, such as sugar or salt) by boiling
boilable
ˈbȯi-lə-bəl
adjective boil
2 of 3noun (1)
: a localized swelling and inflammation of the skin resulting from infection of a hair follicle and adjacent tissue, having a hard central core, and forming pus
boil
3 of 3noun (2)
1
: the act or state of boiling
2
: a swirling upheaval (as of water)
3
: a boiled dish of seafood, vegetables, and seasonings
a crab boil
also : a gathering at which this dish is served
Synonyms
Verb
- burn
- foam
- fume
- rage
- rankle
- seethe
- sizzle
- steam
- storm
Noun (1)
- fester
- hickey
- papule
- pimple
- pock
- pustule
- whelk
- zit [slang]
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb Keep the temperature low enough so the mixture will not boil. a pot of boiling water french fries cooked in boiling oil
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English, from Anglo-French buillir, boillir, from Latin bullire to bubble, from bulla bubble
Noun (1)
Middle English, alteration of bile, from Old English bȳl; akin to Old High German pūlla bladder
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a
Noun (1)
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun (2)
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing boil
Kids Definition
boil 1 of 3
noun
ˈbȯil
: a red painful lump in the skin that contains pus and is caused by infection
boil
2 of 3verb
boiled; boiling
1
: to heat or become heated to the temperature at which bubbles form and rise to the top
boil water
2
: to cook or become cooked in boiling water
boil eggs
Let the stew boil slowly.
3
: to feel angry or upset
The crowd boiled in frustration.
boil
3 of 3noun
: the state of something that is boiling
Bring the water to a boil.
Medical Definition
boil
noun
ˈbȯi(ə)l
: a localized swelling and inflammation of the skin resulting from usually bacterial infection of a hair follicle and adjacent tissue, having a hard central core, and forming pus
called also furuncle
boils 1 of 2
noun
as in blisters
a small, inflamed swelling of the skin the dermatologist lanced the infected boil that had formed on the patient's neck Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- blisters
- pustules
- pimples
- bumps
- lumps
- festers
- pocks
- sores
- zits
- papules
- welts
- warts
- whelks
- hickeys
- blackheads
- protuberances
- weals
- milia
- whiteheads
boils
2 of 2verb
1
as in steams
to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger the passengers were boiling when they found out the flight was delayed yet again Synonyms & Similar Words
- steams
- burns
- rages
- storms
- seethes
- rankles
- sizzles
- foams
- shakes
- fumes
- sees red
- agitates
- fulminates
- inflames
- smolders
- roils
- rants
- enflames
- raves
- chafes
- smoulders
- convulses
- stews
- bristles
- flares (up)
- frets
2
as in simmers
to cook in a liquid heated to the point that it gives off steam boil the potatoes until they are tender before you try to mash them Synonyms & Similar Words
- steams
- simmers
- stews
- poaches
- parboils
- coddles
- scalds
- reboils
- fricassees
- braises
- pressure-cooks
- smothers
3
as in churns
to be in a state of violent rolling motion the sea boiled and frothed during the storm Synonyms & Similar Words
- churns
- seethes
- roils
- swirls
- spins
- stirs
- whirls
- reels
- moils
- agitates
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- calms
- subsides
- abates