to change from a liquid to a gaseous state, producing bubbles of gas that rise to the surface of the liquid, agitating it as they rise.
to reach or be brought to the boiling point: When the water boils, add the meat and cabbage.
to be in an agitated or violent state: The sea boiled in the storm.
to be deeply stirred or upset.
to contain, or be contained in, a liquid that boils: The kettle is boiling. The vegetables are boiling.
verb (used with object)
to cause to boil or to bring to the boiling point: Boil two cups of water.
to cook (something) in boiling water: to boil eggs.
to separate (sugar, salt, etc.) from a solution containing it by boiling off the liquid.
noun
the act or an instance of boiling.
the state or condition of boiling:He brought a kettle of water to a boil.
an area of agitated, swirling, bubbling water, as part of a rapids.
Also called blow. Civil Engineering. an unwanted flow of water and solid matter into an excavation, due to excessive outside water pressure.
Verb Phrases
boil down,
to reduce the quantity of by boiling off liquid.
to shorten; abridge.
to be simplifiable or summarizable as; lead to the conclusion that; point: It all boils down to a clear case of murder.
boil over,
to overflow while boiling or as if while boiling; burst forth; erupt.
to be unable to repress anger, excitement, etc.: Any mention of the incident makes her boil over.
Idioms for boil
boil off, Textiles.
to degum (silk).
to remove (sizing, wax, impurities, or the like) from a fabric by subjecting it to a hot scouring solution.
Also boil out .
Origin of boil
1
1250–1300; Middle English boillen<Anglo-French, Old French boillir<Latin bullīre to bubble, effervesce, boil, verbal derivative of bulla bubble
SYNONYMS FOR boil
3 foam, churn, froth.
4 rage.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR boil ON THESAURUS.COM
synonym study for boil
4. Boil,seethe,simmer,stew are used figuratively to refer to agitated states of emotion. To boil suggests the state of being very hot with anger or rage: Rage made his blood boil. To seethe is to be deeply stirred, violently agitated, or greatly excited: A mind seething with conflicting ideas. To simmer means to be on the point of bursting out or boiling over: to simmer with curiosity, with anger. To stew is to worry, to be in a restless state of anxiety and excitement: to stew about ( or over ) one's troubles.
a painful, circumscribed inflammation of the skin or a hair follicle, having a dead, suppurating inner core: usually caused by a staphylococcal infection.
Also called furuncle.
Origin of boil
2
before 1000; Middle English bile, bule,Old English bȳle; cognate with German Beule boil, hump, akin to Old Norse beyla hump, swelling
Fill the pot with warm water so the jars are covered by an inch or two, and bring it to a boil.
How to can your favorite foods without dying|Rachel Feltman|October 13, 2020|Popular Science
Fill your pot with water until it’s nearly half full, and bring it to a boil.
A Family-Friendly Camp Meal That Everyone Can Help With|Wes Siler|October 1, 2020|Outside Online
Residents of Lake Jackson, where the boy contracted the amoeba after playing at a local water park, are under a boil water advisory.
Brain-eating amoebae are very rare, but warming waters may change that|Kat Eschner|September 29, 2020|Popular Science
The release says the process should take about two weeks, during which the boil water advisory will remain in place.
Brain-eating amoebae are very rare, but warming waters may change that|Kat Eschner|September 29, 2020|Popular Science
They are simply a boil on the rectum of humanity and should be treated as such.
Tribute to my American heroes|Brody Levesque|September 17, 2020|Washington Blade
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season liberally with salt.
Make Carla Hall’s Crispy Shallot Green Bean Casserole|Carla Hall|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the string beans.
The Barefoot Contessa’s Tasty Trip to Paris|Ina Garten|November 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Businesses are suffering more each day in an area where the rents are extortionate, and the situation could boil over soon.
Hong Kong Between Calm and Chaos|Ben Leung|October 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But there is a middle way from clean-cut hunkdom to looking like a militia leader who might boil a hitchhiker alive.
Leo, the Beard Has to Go: When a Man’s Facial Hair Reaches Crisis Point|Tim Teeman|September 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Get out before the show went off the boil, as some feel it has?
Dan Stevens Blows Up ‘Downton’: From Chubby-Cheeked Aristo to Lean, Mean American Psycho|Tim Teeman|September 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Allow to boil until the balls are well set, turning them over that both sides may get done.
The Allinson Vegetarian Cookery Book|Thomas R. Allinson
Let it boil a little, then take it out, drain it over the saucepan, and dry it before the fire.
The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches,|Mary Eaton
Watch carefully until the liquid in the bottle begins to boil.
First Book in Physiology and Hygiene|J.H. Kellogg
Three quarters of an hour will bake it, and an hour will boil it.
The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches,|Mary Eaton
Cook slowly until the prunes are tender and then drain the syrup and boil ten minutes before pouring over the prunes.
Mrs. Wilson's Cook Book|Mary A. Wilson
British Dictionary definitions for boil (1 of 2)
boil1
/ (bɔɪl) /
verb
to change or cause to change from a liquid to a vapour so rapidly that bubbles of vapour are formed copiously in the liquidCompare evaporate
to reach or cause to reach boiling point
to cook or be cooked by the process of boiling
(intr)to bubble and be agitated like something boiling; seethethe ocean was boiling
(intr)to be extremely angry or indignant (esp in the phrase make one's blood boil)she was boiling at his dishonesty
(intr)to contain a boiling liquidthe pot is boiling
noun
the state or action of boiling (esp in the phrases on the boil, off the boil)
See also boil away, boil down, boil off, boil over, boil up
Derived forms of boil
boilable, adjective
Word Origin for boil
C13: from Old French boillir, from Latin bullīre to bubble, from bulla a bubble
British Dictionary definitions for boil (2 of 2)
boil2
/ (bɔɪl) /
noun
a red painful swelling with a hard pus-filled core caused by bacterial infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissues, esp at a hair follicleTechnical name: furuncle
Word Origin for boil
Old English bӯle; related to Old Norse beyla swelling, Old High German būlla bladder, Gothic ufbauljan to inflate
To change from a liquid to a gaseous state by being heated to the boiling point and being provided with sufficient energy. Boiling is an example of a phase transition.