Boil Word Meaning

Middle English: from Old French boillir, from Latin bullire ‘to bubble’, from bulla ‘bubble’

(with reference to a liquid) reach or cause to reach the temperature at which it bubbles and turns to vapour

reach or cause to reach boiling point

• we asked people to boil their drinking water
• he waited for the water to boil

(with reference to food) cook or be cooked by immersing in boiling water or stock

cook or be cooked in boiling liquid

• boil the potatoes until well done
• you can put the salad together while the pasta is boiling

(of the sea or clouds) be turbulent and stormy

(of sea or clouds) be turbulent

• she stood gazing out of the lighthouse window as the sea boiled beneath her

the temperature at which a liquid bubbles and turns to vapour

temperature at which liquid boils

• bring the sauce to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes

a casual outdoor meal at which shellfish is prepared by boiling

outdoor meal at which shellfish is boiled

• the reappearance of warm days signals another revival: weekend crawfish boils