burble

[ bur-buhl ]

verb (used without object)

, bur·bled, bur·bling.

1. to make a bubbling sound; bubble.
2. to speak in an excited manner; babble.

noun

1. a bubbling or gentle flow.
2. an excited flow of speech.
3. Aeronautics. the breakdown of smooth airflow around a wing at a high angle of attack.

burble

/ ˈbɜːbəl /

verb

1. to make or utter with a bubbling sound; gurgle
2. intr; often foll by away or on to talk quickly and excitedly
3. intr (of the airflow around a body) to become turbulent

noun

1. a bubbling or gurgling sound
2. a flow of excited speech
3. turbulence in the airflow around a body

Derived Forms

• ˈburbler, noun

Other Words From

• burbler noun
• burbly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of burble¹

1275–1325; Middle English; perhaps variant of bubble

Word History and Origins

Origin of burble¹

C14: probably of imitative origin; compare Spanish borbollar to bubble, gush, Italian borbugliare

Example Sentences

Asking short questions is hard, which is why so many interviewers burble their way through long ones.

From The Daily Beast

Meanwhile the author of the latest explanation went from house to house to burble the news in the company of his two witnesses.

From Project Gutenberg

All was still again except the quiet hum of the mechanical shampoo brush and the soft burble of running water.

From Project Gutenberg

There was no wind, and except for the burble of the stream and the call of the birds all was still in the forest.

From Project Gutenberg

She heard a faint burble of talk away at the other end of the wire.

From Project Gutenberg

I even test my burble on poor Sister every week before sending it in.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• babble