bubbler

American  

[buhb-ler] / ˈbʌb lər /

noun

1. a drinking fountain that spouts water.

2. Chemistry. any device for bubbling gas through a liquid.

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bubbler British  

/ ˈbʌblə /

noun

1. a drinking fountain in which the water is forced in a stream from a small vertical nozzle

2. chem any device for bubbling gas through a liquid

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Usage

What is a bubbler? Bubbler is a regional term for what’s more commonly called a drinking fountain or a water fountain—a device that ejects a fountainlike stream of water that can be drunk from without a cup. The word bubbler is typically only used this way in a few areas of the U. S., including Wisconsin and parts of New England. Bubbler is also used in other contexts to refer to a device that sends gas bubbles through a liquid. Such equipment may be used in chemistry experiments, for example. They’re sometimes called gas bubblers. An irrigation bubbler is a device used to water the soil around tree roots, typically as part of an irrigation system in an orchard. Example: The line to get a drink from the bubbler at the Sox game was wicked long.

Etymology

Origin of bubbler

First recorded in 1710–20; bubble + -er ¹

Compare meaning

How does bubbler compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• bubbler vs. water fountain

Example Sentences

Vieau put together a webpage and a video of the project on the Teen Bubbler website.

From Washington Times • Jan. 18, 2020

Jesse Vieau, a teen services librarian with the Madison Public Library who also works with the Teen Bubbler program, has been involved with the detention center and the murals for about six years.

From Washington Times • Jan. 18, 2020

Related Words

• geyser
• reservoir
• stream