bubbling definition | Dictionary.com

bub⋅ble

[buhb-uh

noun, verb, -bled, -bling.

–noun

1.	a nearly spherical body of gas contained in a liquid.

2.	a small globule of gas in a thin liquid envelope.

3.	a globule of air or gas, or a globular vacuum, contained in a solid.

4.	anything that lacks firmness, substance, or permanence; an illusion or delusion.

5.	an inflated speculation, esp. if fraudulent: The real-estate bubble ruined many investors.

6.	the act or sound of bubbling.

7.	a spherical or nearly spherical canopy or shelter; dome: The bombing plane bristled with machine-gun bubbles. A network of radar bubbles stretches across northern Canada.

8.	a domelike structure, usually of inflated plastic, used to enclose a swimming pool, tennis court, etc.

9.	Informal. a protected, exempt, or unique area, industry, etc.: The oasis is a bubble of green in the middle of the desert.

10.	an area that can be defended, protected, patrolled, etc., or that comes under one's jurisdiction: The carrier fleet's bubble includes the Hawaiian Islands.

11.	a sudden, small, temporary change or divergence from a trend: In May there was a bubble in car sales, with three percent more being sold than last year.

–verb (used without object)

12.	to form, produce, or release bubbles; effervesce.

13.	to flow or spout with a gurgling noise; gurgle.

14.	to boil: The tea bubbled in the pot.

15.	to speak, move, issue forth, or exist in a lively, sparkling manner; exude cheer: The play bubbled with songs and dances.

16.	to seethe or stir, as with excitement: His mind bubbles with plans and schemes.

–verb (used with object)

17.	to cause to bubble; make bubbles in.

18.	Archaic. to cheat; deceive; swindle.

—Verb phrase

19.	bubble over, to become lively: The last time I saw her she was bubbling over with enthusiasm.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME bobel (n.); c. MD bobbel, MLG bubbele, Sw bubbla

Related forms:

bub⋅ble⋅less, adjective

bub⋅ble⋅like, adjective

bub⋅bling⋅ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To bubbling

bub·ble (bŭb'əl)

A thin, usually spherical or hemispherical film of liquid filled with air or gas: a soap bubble.
A globular body of air or gas formed within a liquid: air bubbles rising to the surface.
A pocket formed in a solid by air or gas that is trapped, as during cooling or hardening.
1. The act or process of forming bubbles.
2. A sound made by or as if by the forming and bursting of bubbles.
3. A fantastic or impracticable idea or belief; an illusion: didn't want to burst the new volunteers' bubble.
4. A speculative scheme that comes to nothing: lost money in the real estate bubble.
Something insubstantial, groundless, or ephemeral, especially:
1. A fantastic or impracticable idea or belief; an illusion: didn't want to burst the new volunteers' bubble.
2. A speculative scheme that comes to nothing: lost money in the real estate bubble.
Something light or effervescent: "Macon—though terribly distressed—had to fight down a bubble of laughter" (Anne Tyler).
A usually transparent glass or plastic dome.
A protective, often isolating envelope or cover: "The Secret Service will talk of tightening protection, but no President wants to live in a bubble" (Anthony Lewis).

v. bub·bled, bub·bling, bub·bles

v. intr.

To form or give off bubbles.
To move or flow with a gurgling sound: a brook bubbling along its course.
To rise to or as if to the surface; emerge: "Since then, the revolution has bubbled up again in many forms" (Jonathan Schell).
To display irrepressible activity or emotion: bubbling over with excitement.

v. tr.
To cause to form bubbles.

[From Middle English bubelen, to bubble.]

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