boil

Universal Words verb, noun verb 1 when a liquid boils or when you boil it, it is heated to the point where it forms bubbles and turns to steam or VAPOUR: [V] The water was bubbling and boiling away. * [VN] Boil plenty of salted water, then add the spaghetti. 2 when a KETTLE, pan, etc. boils or when you boil a KETTLE, etc., it is heated until the water inside it boils : [VN] I'll boil the kettle and make some tea. * [V] (BrE) The kettle's boiling. * [V-ADJ] She left the gas on by mistake and the pan boiled dry (= the water boiled until there was none left). 3 to cook or wash sth in boiling water; to be cooked or washed in boiling water: [V] She put some potatoes on to boil. * [VN] boiled carrots / cabbage * [VN, VNN] to boil an egg for sb * to boil sb an egg 4 [V] (written) if you boil with anger, etc. or anger, etc. boils inside you, you are very angry: He was boiling with rage. * She wanted to give vent to the fury boiling within her. IDIOMS see BLOODn. PHRASALVERBS boil down