boil 1
/boyl/ , v.i.
1. 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.
2. to reach or be brought to the boiling point: When the water boils, add the meat and cabbage.
3. to be in an agitated or violent state: The sea boiled in the storm.
4. to be deeply stirred or upset.
5. to contain, or be contained in, a liquid that boils: The kettle is boiling. The vegetables are boiling.
v.t.
6. to cause to boil or to bring to the boiling point: Boil two cups of water.
7. to cook (something) in boiling water: to boil eggs.
8. to separate (sugar, salt, etc.) from a solution containing it by boiling off the liquid.
9. boil down ,
a. to reduce the quantity of by boiling off liquid.
b. to shorten; abridge.
c. to be simplifiable or summarizable as; lead to the conclusion that; point: It all boils down to a clear case of murder.
10. boil off , Textiles.
a. to degum (silk).
b. to remove (sizing, wax, impurities, or the like) from a fabric by subjecting it to a hot scouring solution. Also, boil out .
11. boil over ,
a. to overflow while boiling or as if while boiling; burst forth; erupt.
b. to be unable to repress anger, excitement, etc.: Any mention of the incident makes her boil over.
n.
12. the act or an instance of boiling.
13. the state or condition of boiling: He brought a kettle of water to a boil.
14. an area of agitated, swirling, bubbling water, as part of a rapids.
15. Also called blow . Civ. Engin. an unwanted flow of water and solid matter into an excavation, due to excessive outside water pressure.
[ 1250-1300; ME boillen boillir bullire to bubble, effervesce, boil, v. deriv. of bulla bubble ]
Syn. 3. foam, churn, froth. 4. rage. 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.
boil 2
/boyl/ , n. Pathol.
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 .
[ bef. 1000; ME bile, bule, OE byle; c. G Beule boil, hump, akin to ON beyla hump, swelling ]