boil
/bɔɪl/ (bre, ipa) · /bɔɪl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbȯi(-ə)l/ (ame, mw)
boil — verb
1. for a liquid to get hot enough to make many bubbles and give off steam, or to he
for a liquid to get hot enough to make many bubbles and give off steam, or to heat it until this happens.
The water boiled after eight minutes on the gas stove.
[liquid] + boils
Priya boiled fresh milk for tea before her guests arrived.
boil + liquid
Small bubbles showed first, then the soup boiled near the rim.
On the mountain, water boils sooner than it does at home.
- heat
broader; it does not say the liquid has reached this stage
- bubble
focuses on the look of the liquid, not always the full temperature
- bring to the boil
common phrase for causing a liquid to reach this point
文法句型
boil + liquid
[liquid] + boils
用法筆記
With a liquid as subject or object. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense names the liquid itself, while sense 2 uses a container such as a kettle or pan.
常見錯誤
2. to heat a kettle, pan, or similar container until the water or other liquid insi
to heat a kettle, pan, or similar container until the water or other liquid inside is boiling.
Leila boiled the kettle while Bao set out the cups.
boil + kettle
The old pan was boiling on the back burner by noon.
[container] + is boiling
Hiro boiled a large pot for pasta before lunch.
By the time the bell rang, the camping kettle had boiled.
- take off
to remove the container from the heat
文法句型
boil + kettle / pan / pot
[kettle / pan / pot] + boils
用法筆記
Object or subject is a container, not the liquid. In everyday use, speakers often mean the water inside the kettle or pan.
常見錯誤
3. to prepare food in strongly bubbling water.
to prepare food in strongly bubbling water.
Omar boiled potatoes for the picnic lunch beside the lake.
boil + food
The noodles boiled for three minutes in a wide pan.
[food] + boils
Aiko boiled corn on the small stove after the market closed.
The beans need to boil a little longer before dinner.
文法句型
boil + food
[food] + boils
用法筆記
Object is usually food such as eggs, potatoes, or noodles. Distinguish from sense 1, where the thing boiling is simply the liquid, and from sense 5, which is about clothes.
常見錯誤
4. if a pan or the food in it boils dry, the water is all gone after too much heati
if a pan or the food in it boils dry, the water is all gone after too much heating.
The rice boiled dry while Greta answered the phone downstairs.
boil dry
By sunset, the soup had boiled dry in the cracked pot.
One pan nearly boiled dry because the lid was loose.
At camp, the beans boiled dry and left a black ring.
- soak
to keep something in liquid instead of losing it
文法句型
[pan / food] + boils dry
boil + [something] + dry
用法筆記
Usually appears as 'boil dry'. Subject is often a pan, rice, soup, or beans. The focus is the loss of water, not successful cooking.
5. to clean clothes by washing them in very hot water, often in an old-fashioned wa
to clean clothes by washing them in very hot water, often in an old-fashioned way.
Aunt Rosa boiled the baby clothes in a metal tub.
boil + clothes
The hotel boiled white towels after the muddy flood.
boil + towels
The nurse boiled sheets every evening in the old laundry room.
The old machine could boil cotton shirts but not wool socks.
- dry-clean
to clean clothes without water
文法句型
boil + clothes / sheets / towels
用法筆記
Usually about old-fashioned washing methods or special cleaning. Object is fabric, especially white clothes, sheets, or towels.
常見錯誤
6. to feel extremely angry, as if the anger is rising strongly inside you.
to feel extremely angry, as if the anger is rising strongly inside you.
Kofi boiled with anger when he saw the broken violin.
boil with anger
Nadia was boiling after the airline lost her bag again.
Anger boiled inside the crowd as the gates stayed shut.
Farouk looked calm, but he was boiling during the meeting.
文法句型
boil with anger
anger boils inside + [person]
用法筆記
Usually followed by a feeling word such as 'with anger' or shown by 'anger boiled inside…'. Distinguish from senses 1-5, which describe real heat.
常見錯誤
boil — noun
1. a sore, swollen lump on the skin with pus inside.
a sore, swollen lump on the skin with pus inside.
A boil appeared on Ravi's neck after the wet camping trip.
a boil on + body part
The doctor said the boil on Mei's arm needed treatment.
Warm cloths helped the boil open and drain more easily.
Yara covered the boil with a clean bandage before school.
文法句型
a boil on + body part
用法筆記
Common with body parts such as neck, arm, leg, or face. In everyday speech, people often explain it as an infected lump rather than naming it.
2. one round of boiling used to cook food or wash cloth in hot water.
one round of boiling used to cook food or wash cloth in hot water.
Give the towels a short boil before hanging them outside.
give + [thing] + a boil
The carrots need one more boil before they are soft.
After a long boil, the bones were ready for soup.
One extra boil made the white shirts look much cleaner.
文法句型
give + [thing] + a boil
after a long boil
用法筆記
Usually refers to one period of washing or cooking in very hot water. Distinguish from sense 3, which names the boiling state itself.
3. the condition of a liquid when it is fully boiling and bubbles are rising fast.
the condition of a liquid when it is fully boiling and bubbles are rising fast.
Keep the milk at a gentle boil for two minutes.
at a gentle boil
The jam reached a fast boil before the sugar dissolved.
Once the soup is at the boil, add the noodles.
Steam filled the room as the kettle came to a boil.
- boiling point
the temperature value, not the state in a pan or pot
- simmer
a weaker cooking state below a full boil
- coolness
the condition of being cool rather than hot
文法句型
at a boil
come to a boil
用法筆記
Most often appears in fixed phrases such as 'at a boil' and 'come to a boil'. Distinguish from sense 2, which counts one period of boiling as an event.