bub·ble [bubblebubblesbubbledbubbling] noun, verb BrE [ˈbʌbl] NAmE [ˈbʌbl] noun 1. a ball of air or gas in a liquid, or a ball of air inside a solid substance such as glass •champagne bubbles •a bubble of oxygen •blowing bubbles into water through a straw see also ↑speech bubble 2. a round ball of liquid, containing air, produced by soap and water • The children like to have bubbles in their bath. 3. a small amount of a feeling that sb wants to express •a bubble of laughter/hope/enthusiasm 4. a good or lucky situation that is unlikely to last long • At the time the telecoms bubble was at its height. more at burst sb's bubble at ↑burstv.
Word Origin: Middle English: partly imitative, partly an alteration of ↑burble.
Example Bank: •The champagne was full of tiny bubbles. •The children were blowing bubbles. •They jumped about, bursting the bubbles. •Care must be taken to ensure that there are no bubbles trapped in the syringe. •He blew bubbles into the water through a straw. •There are air bubbles trapped inside the ice. Idiom: ↑bubble bursts Derived: ↑bubble under
verb 1. intransitive to form bubbles •The water in the pan was beginning to bubble. •Add the white wine and let it bubble up. •Cook until the cheese is golden and bubbling. 2. intransitive (+ adv./prep.) to make a bubbling sound, especially when moving in the direction mentioned •I could hear the soup bubbling away. •A stream came bubbling between the stones. •Mike's laugh bubbled down the line. 3. intransitive ~ (over) with sth to be full of a particular feeling •She was bubbling over with excitement. 4. intransitive + adv./prep. (of a feeling)to be felt strongly by a person; to be present in a situation •Laughter bubbled up inside him. •the anger that bubbled beneath the surface •Long-standing ethnic tensions have bubbled to the surface. •Match-rigging is still bubbling away in the background. Verb forms:
Word Origin: Middle English: partly imitative, partly an alteration of ↑burble.
Example Bank: •Emotions quickly bubble to the surface. •He was bubbling over with excitement. •She could feel the anger bubbling up inside her. •The business was still small but I was bubbling with ideas. •The soup was bubbling away on the stove. •The water in the saucepan was bubbling furiously.
