boil

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:

   Water boils at 100°C.

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.

   Synonyms: froth, churn, foam

4. to be deeply stirred or upset:

   I didn’t dare open my mouth, as I was boiling with rage.

   Synonyms: rage

5. to contain, or be contained in, a liquid that boils:

   The kettle is boiling.

   The vegetables are boiling.

1. to cause to boil or to bring to the boiling point:

   Boil two cups of water.

2. to cook (something) in boiling water:

   Don’t boil the eggs too long if you want soft yolks.

3. to separate (sugar, salt, etc.) from a solution containing it by boiling off the liquid:

   A basic candy can be made by simply boiling sugar in a pan.

1. the act, state, or condition of boiling:

   He brought a kettle of water to a boil.

2. a social event at which food is cooked in boiling water:

   We celebrated harvest and the end of summer with a corn boil in the backyard.

   A jam-packed frosh week kicks off with a crawfish boil and outdoor concert.

3. an area of agitated, swirling, bubbling water, such as part of a rapids:

   My flashlight beam shone on the boil of the river as it beat against the bridge’s foundations.

4. Also called blow. Civil Engineering. an unwanted flow of water and solid matter into an excavation, due to excessive outside water pressure.

verb phrase

1. 1. to reduce the quantity of by boiling off liquid:

      Boil the sauce down till it just covers the cutlets.

   2. to shorten; abridge:

      I think you could boil this lengthy essay down to a couple of pages.

   3. to be simplifiable or summarizable as; lead to the conclusion that; point:

      It all boils down to a basic lack of respect for their employees.

2. 1. to overflow while boiling or as if while boiling; burst forth; erupt:

      Your soup boiled over and made a mess on the stove.

   2. to be unable to suppress anger, excitement, etc.:

      Any mention of the incident makes her boil over.

3. 1. to clear deposits of calcium, minerals, etc., from (a vehicle’s radiator) by immersing it in boiling water for a time.
   2. to eliminate by or as if by boiling:

      Unlike the germs in your drinking water, lead can't be boiled out.

      The events in the stories have had most of their specialness boiled out by decades of repetition.

   3. boil off.

1. a painful, circumscribed inflammation of the skin or a hair follicle, having a dead, suppurating inner core: usually caused by a staphylococcal infection.