burble

/ˈbɜːbl/ (bre, ipa) · [bˈɚbəl] /ˈbɜːrbl/ (ame, ipa) · [bˈɚbəl] /ˈbər-bəl How to pronounce burble (audio)/ (ame, mw)

burble — verb

  • burblepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • burbleshe / she / it
  • burbledpast simple
  • burbling-ing form

1. to make a gentle bubbling noise, especially as water or other liquid moves along

1.動詞不及物C1
釋義

to make a gentle bubbling noise, especially as water or other liquid moves along

例句

Water burbled under the bridge while Lara waited for the last bus.

burble + under [place] for flowing water

The coffee pot burbled on the stove as Soraya sliced bread.

同義詞
  • bubble

    more general and often focuses on the bubbles rather than the sound

  • gurgle

    suggests a wetter, throat-like or pipe-like sound

  • murmur

    broader and softer, used for many low continuous sounds

反義詞

文法句型

[water/liquid] burbles under or through [place]

[pot/pan] burbles on the stove

[soup/stream] burbles when heat or movement changes

用法筆記

The subject is usually water, soup, or another liquid. It often appears with place phrases such as under the bridge, through the pipes, or in the pan.

常見錯誤

❌Soraya burbled the coffee on the stove.
✅The coffee burbled on the stove.
💡this sense is normally intransitive, so the liquid or container is the subject.

2. to keep talking in a confused flow that listeners cannot easily follow

2.動詞不及物C1
釋義

to keep talking in a confused flow that listeners cannot easily follow

例句

Beatrix burbled about office gossip until the train reached Tamsui.

burble about + topic in rapid unclear talk

After the surprise, Adina burbled on so fast nobody could follow.

burble on for continuing unclear speech

同義詞
  • babble

    close in meaning and often suggests fast, unclear talking

  • prattle

    usually suggests childish or trivial talk

  • ramble

    focuses more on wandering off the point than on unclear sound

反義詞

文法句型

[person] burbles about [topic]

[person] burbles on

[person] burbles through [speech or instructions]

用法筆記

The speaker usually keeps going without organizing the message clearly. Distinguish it from sense 1, which is about a liquid sound rather than human speech.

常見錯誤

❌Jenna burbled the directions to the staff clearly.
✅Jenna burbled through the directions, and the staff looked confused.
💡this sense is intransitive and suggests unclear, hard-to-follow speech.

burble — noun