boil

1 of 3

verb

boiled; boiling; boils

intransitive verb

1
a
: to come to the boiling point
b
: to generate bubbles of vapor when heated
used of a liquid
c
: to cook in boiling water
2
: to become agitated : seethe
3
: to be moved, excited, or stirred up
4
a
: to rush headlong
b
: to burst forth
5
: to undergo the action of a boiling liquid

transitive verb

1
: to subject to the action of a boiling liquid
2
: to heat to the boiling point
3
: to form or separate (something, such as sugar or salt) by boiling
boilable adjective

boil

2 of 3

noun (1)

: a localized swelling and inflammation of the skin resulting from infection of a hair follicle and adjacent tissue, having a hard central core, and forming pus

boil

3 of 3

noun (2)

1
: the act or state of boiling
2
: a swirling upheaval (as of water)
3
: a boiled dish of seafood, vegetables, and seasonings
a crab boil
also : a gathering at which this dish is served

Examples of boil in a Sentence

Verb Keep the temperature low enough so the mixture will not boil. a pot of boiling water french fries cooked in boiling oil
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Add the peas, bulgur and boiling water and season generously with salt and pepper before covering the skillet and turning off the heat. Laura McLively, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024 But now she’s shaken off far too many of the vital elements that make her novels boil and steam. Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2024 As the standoff between Universal Music Group and TikTok over royalties, AI and other matters continues to boil amid angry words from both sides — and the National Music Publishers Assn. Jem Aswad, Variety, 11 Mar. 2024 In the study, boiling hard water containing 300 milligrams of calcium carbonate led to an almost 90 percent drop in plastics. Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024 Test Kitchen Tip: Don't let your pan boil dry while the eggs are steaming. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Feb. 2024 Her husband boiled them to avoid messes, and Grace Hall of Birmingham's Grace Calligraphy added the delicate lettering. Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 23 Feb. 2024 After Amanda finishes the demonstration, the room hums with focused, low-key chatter as her students begin cutting, boiling, and stirring their dishes. Jordan P. Hickey, Longreads, 22 Feb. 2024 All these ingredients will be brought to a boil, covered and boiled for two to three hours until the meat begins to separate from the bones. Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Feb. 2024
Noun
Using the same medium saucepan, bring 2 cups water to a boil. Melissa Clark, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2024 Fill about three-fourths full with water; bring to a boil. Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Mar. 2024 Related Articles Bring to a boil, then simmer, partially covered, over medium-low heat until the vegetables are tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Lynda Balslev, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2024 In Acadiana, the constellation of communities surrounding Lafayette that make up the heart of Cajun Louisiana, the smell of boils often wafts through neighborhoods. Rick Rojas Emily Kask, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024 Heat the cream until tiny bubbles appear around the edges of the pan, but do not bring the cream to a boil. Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 14 Mar. 2024 Cajun food is often celebrated at outdoor events like crawfish boils and boucheries throughout the state of Louisiana. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2024 Extra virgin olive oil 1 clove of garlic A bunch of fresh basil Cook your pasta separately, bringing a pot of water to a boil and adding your pasta of choice. Mark Holgate, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2024 Bring to a boil and simmer until the sauce is reduced by about one-third and slightly thickened, about 20 minutes, skimming any fat from the surface. Lynda Balslev, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'boil.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French buillir, boillir, from Latin bullire to bubble, from bulla bubble

Noun (1)

Middle English, alteration of bile, from Old English bȳl; akin to Old High German pūlla bladder

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of boil was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near boil

Cite this Entry

“Boil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boil. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

boil

1 of 3 noun
: a painful swollen inflamed area of the skin resulting from infection compare carbuncle sense 2

boil

2 of 3 verb
1
a
: to produce bubbles of vapor when heated
the water is boiling
b
: to come or bring to the boiling point
the coffee boiled
2
: to churn violently as if boiling
boiling floodwaters
3
: to be excited or stirred up
boil with anger
4
: to go through or cause to go through the action of a boiling liquid
boil eggs

boil

3 of 3 noun
: the act or state of boiling
bring to a boil
Etymology

Noun

an altered form of Middle English bile "a boil," from Old English bȳl (same meaning)

Verb

Middle English boilen "to boil," from early French boillir, derived from Latin bulla "a bubble" — related to bill entry 3, bowl entry 2

Medical Definition

boil

noun
: a localized swelling and inflammation of the skin resulting from usually bacterial infection of a hair follicle and adjacent tissue, having a hard central core, and forming pus

called also furuncle

More from Merriam-Webster on boil

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!