bubble Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a hollow globule of gas (e.g., air or carbon dioxide)
  2. noun a speculative scheme that depends on unstable factors that the planner cannot control
    house of cards.
    • his proposal was nothing but a house of cards
    • a real estate bubble
  3. noun an impracticable and illusory idea
    • he didn't want to burst the newcomer's bubble
  4. noun a dome-shaped covering made of transparent glass or plastic
  5. verb form, produce, or emit bubbles
    • The soup was bubbling
  6. verb flow in an irregular current with a bubbling noise
    babble; burble; guggle; ripple; gurgle.
    • babbling brooks
  7. verb rise in bubbles or as if in bubbles
    • bubble to the surface
  8. verb cause to form bubbles
    • bubble gas through a liquid
  9. verb expel gas from the stomach
    belch; burp; eruct.
    • In China it is polite to burp at the table

WordNet

Bub"ble noun
Etymology
Cf. D. bobbel, Dan. boble, Sw. bubbla. Cf. Blob, n.
Definitions
  1. A thin film of liquid inflated with air or gas; as, a soap bubble; bubbles on the surface of a river.
    Beads of sweat have stood upon thy brow, Like bubbles in a late disturbed stream. Shak.
  2. A small quantity of air or gas within a liquid body; as, bubbles rising in champagne or aërated waters.
  3. A globule of air, or globular vacuum, in a transparent solid; as, bubbles in window glass, or in a lens.
  4. A small, hollow, floating bead or globe, formerly used for testing the strength of spirits.
  5. The globule of air in the spirit tube of a level.
  6. Anything that wants firmness or solidity; that which is more specious than real; a false show; a cheat or fraud; a delusive scheme; an empty project; a dishonest speculation; as, the South Sea bubble.
    Then a soldier . . . Seeking the bubble reputation Even in the cannon's mouth. Shak.
  7. A person deceived by an empty project; a gull. Obs. "Ganny's a cheat, and I'm a bubble." Prior.
Bub"ble intransitive verb
Etymology
Cf. D. bobbelen, Dan. boble. See Bubble, n.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Bubbled ; present participle & verbal noun Bubbling
Definitions
  1. To rise in bubbles, as liquids when boiling or agitated; to contain bubbles.
    The milk that bubbled in the pail. Tennyson.
  2. To run with a gurdling noise, as if forming bubbles; as, a bubbling stream. Pope.
  3. To sing with a gurgling or warbling sound.
    At mine ear Bubbled the nightingale and heeded not. Tennyson.

Webster 1913