I. bub ‧ ble 1 /ˈbʌb ə l/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Origin: Probably from the sound of bubbles in liquid ]
1 . a ball of air or gas in liquid:
When water boils, bubbles rise to the surface.
soap bubbles
She was blowing bubbles in her milk with a straw.
2 . a small amount of air trapped in a solid substance:
Examine the glass carefully for bubbles.
3 . a bubble of something literary a small amount of a feeling:
A bubble of anger rose in Pol’s throat.
4 . ( also speech bubble ) a circle around the words said by someone in a ↑ cartoon
5 . the bubble bursts used for saying that a very successful or happy period of time suddenly ends:
The bubble has finally burst in the mobile phone industry.
6 . burst/prick sb’s bubble to make someone suddenly realize that something is not as good as they thought it was
II. bubble 2 BrE AmE verb [intransitive]
1 . to produce bubbles:
Heat the cheese until it bubbles.
bubble up
The cola bubbled up when I unscrewed the lid.
2 . to make the sound that water makes when it boils
bubble away
The water was bubbling away on the stove.
3 . ( also bubble over ) to be excited
bubble with
Mary was bubbling over with excitement.
4 . ( also bubble away/up ) if a feeling or activity bubbles, it continues to exist:
Resentment was still bubbling inside her.
Speculation that he plans to resign has been bubbling away for months.