verb / noun

boil

BOYL/bɔɪl/

To bubble vigorously as liquid becomes vapor through heat.

The water boils in the open saucepan.

Clear water in an open metal saucepan on a modern hob reaches a rolling boil, bubbles breaking surface with visible steam, no labels or numbers.

Etymology

Latin bullire focused on bubbling and seething, the visible movement of heated liquid. English boil first described that condition, then also came to mean causing a liquid to enter it.

In context

St Mary's University, London3:01

here we've got liquid water that's normally familiar with it being in a liquid state and when we boil it it turns into a gas

Physics Cafe: How Cool is That!?

More examples

Bring the sauce to a boil.
She boiled the potatoes until tender.
He boils with anger at the accusation.

Forms

boil · boils · boiled · boiling

Similar words

bubble: Form rising bubbles without necessarily reaching boiling temperature.
simmer: Cook just below a full boil.