boil

Meaning

Noun

A localized accumulation of pus in the skin, resulting from infection.

Verb

1. (transitive) To heat to the point where it begins to turn into a gas.
2. (ambitransitive) To cook in boiling water.
3. (intransitive) To begin to turn into a gas, seethe.
4. (UK, informal, transitive) To bring to a boil, to heat so as to cause the contents to boil.
5. (informal, intransitive) To be uncomfortably hot.
6. (informal, intransitive) To feel uncomfortably hot.
7. (transitive) To form, or separate, by boiling or evaporation.
8. (obsolete) To steep or soak in warm water.
9. (intransitive) To be agitated like boiling water; to bubble; to effervesce.
10. To be moved or excited with passion; to be hot or fervid.

Opposite of

condense, freeze

Synonyms

cook

🧑‍🍳

abscess

seethe

pimple

sore

furuncle

simmer

tumour

carbuncle

bubble

swelling

boiling

ulcer

blister

tumor

pustule

bubble up

wound

effervesce

roast

fume

decoct

steam

sizzle

churn

cook by boiling

fry

rash

burn

poach

brew

roil

stew

🍲

heat

pus

foam

wart

lump

moil

dress

👗

be angry

smolder

cooking

braise

hot

🥵

gush

growth

boil up

prepare

rage

😡

Translations

bouillir

hervir

kochen

🧑‍🍳

sieden

faire bouillir

bollire

koken

🧑‍🍳

ferver

furoncle

cuire

🧑‍🍳

bullir

βράζω

foruncolo

furúnculo

Furunkel

Pronounced as (IPA)

/bɔɪl/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: bile

Inherited from Old English: bȳl

Cognate with Dutch: buil

Cognate with German: Beule

Cognate with Icelandic: beyla

Inherited from Middle English: boillen

Cognate with French: bouillir

In summary

From Middle English bile, büle (“boil, tumor”), from Old English bȳl, bȳle (“boil, swelling”), from Proto-Germanic *būlijō, *būlō (“boil”).
Akin to Dutch buil (“boil, swelling”), German Beule (“boil, hump”), Icelandic beyla (“swelling, hump”). The expected form is bile; the rounding of the diphthong could be caused by the initial b- and/or by association with etymology 2.