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
Stewed, boiled, fried, roasted, or grilled, fish has been a mainstay in Icelandic cuisine for as long as people have lived there. Claire Volkman, Vogue, 16 Nov. 2023 After the mixture has boiled for 7 minutes, scoop a small spoonful and immerse it in the ice water. Genevieve Ko, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Nov. 2023 As a sign of faith, the girls boil water on a gas cooker, preparing for whatever Mr. Niewenhoudt brings home: pap, South Africa’s staple of ground maize; potatoes; maybe even bones for a broth. Lynsey Chutel Gulshan Khan, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2023 It was supposed to prove out a dream that smaller, modular designs can make splitting atoms to boil water and push turbines with steam much cheaper. WIRED, 9 Nov. 2023 Ars Technica: What sort of connections have surprised and delighted (or terrified) you the most? James Burke: All three boil into one, really: delighted, terrified, and surprised. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 9 Nov. 2023 Boil potatoes: Cook in a medium saucepan in boiling water to cover 15 to 20 minutes or until tender; drain and place into a large mixing bowl. Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 30 Oct. 2023 Cover, leaving the lid slightly ajar, and boil until apples are tender and mixture is thick, stirring occasionally. Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2023 Historically, wealthy Romans would boil eggs and serve them with spicy sauces as an appetizer for a large, fancy meal, according to the North Carolina Egg Association. Christianna Silva, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Nov. 2023
Noun
In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the sugar and corn syrup just to a boil, stirring with a small spatula to dissolve the sugar, about 2 to 3 minutes. Alyssa Sybertz, Southern Living, 16 Nov. 2023 Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-​low and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes, or until the cabbage is tender. Jonathan Miles, Field & Stream, 15 Nov. 2023 The Always Pan is designed to sear, braise, steam, strain, sauté, fry, boil, bake, and food can be served directly from it. Dhara Patel, Peoplemag, 7 Nov. 2023 How to blanch green beans Arguably the easiest way to cook green beans: Bring a big pot of water to a rolling boil and season it generously with salt. Carly Westerfield, Bon Appétit, 30 Oct. 2023 Automatic shutoff and a dry boil prevention feature are handy additions for added safety. Savannah Sher, Popular Science, 26 Oct. 2023 Bring to a boil, then turn the heat to medium-low and cover. Sandra A. Gutierrez, Saveur, 11 Oct. 2023 Once peas have come to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until peas are tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 4 Nov. 2023 Turn the heat down to a low boil and cook for six minutes. Ashia Aubourg, SELF, 2 Nov. 2023 See More

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 29 Nov. 2023.

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

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