n. & v.
--n.
1. a a thin sphere of liquid enclosing air etc. b an air-filled cavity in a liquid or a solidified liquid such as glass or amber.
2 the sound or appearance of boiling.
3 a transparent domed cavity.
4 a visionary or unrealistic project or enterprise (the South Sea Bubble).
--v.intr.
1. rise in or send up bubbles.
2 make the sound of boiling.
Phrases and idioms:
bubble and squeak Brit. cooked cabbage fried with cooked potatoes or meat. bubble bath
1. a preparation for adding to bath water to make it foam.
2 a bath with this added. bubble car Brit. a small motor car with a transparent dome. bubble chamber Physics an apparatus designed to make the tracks of ionizing particles visible as a row of bubbles in a liquid. bubble gum chewing-gum that can be blown into bubbles. bubble memory Computing a type of memory which stores data as a pattern of magnetized regions in a thin layer of magnetic material. bubble over (often foll. by with) be exuberant with laughter, excitement, anger, etc. bubble pack a small package enclosing goods in a transparent material on a backing.
Etymology: ME: prob. imit.