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boiling point

American  

noun

  1. Physics, Chemistry. the temperature at which the vapor pressure of a liquid is equal to the pressure of the atmosphere on the liquid, equal to 212°F (100°C) for water at sea level. b.p.

  2. the point beyond which one becomes angry, outraged, or agitated.

  3. the point at which matters reach a crisis.

boiling point British  

noun

  1. the temperature at which a liquid boils at a given pressure, usually atmospheric pressure at sea level; the temperature at which the vapour pressure of a liquid equals the external pressure

  2. informal the condition of being angered or highly excited

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
boiling point Scientific  
/ boi′lĭng /

  1. The temperature at which a liquid changes to a vapor or gas. This temperature stays the same until all the liquid has vaporized. As the temperature of a liquid rises, the pressure of escaping vapor also rises, and at the boiling point the pressure of the escaping vapor is equal to that exerted on the liquid by the surrounding air, causing bubbles to form. Typically boiling points are measured at sea level. At higher altitudes, where atmospheric pressure is lower, boiling points are lower. The boiling point of water at sea level is 100°C (212°F), while at the top of Mount Everest it is 71°C (159.8°F).

boiling point Cultural  

  1. The temperature at which a given material changes from a liquid to a gas. The boiling point is the same temperature as the condensation point. (See phases of matter.)

boiling point Idioms  

  1. A climax or crisis; a high degree of fury, excitement, or outrage. For example, The union's disgust with management has reached the boiling point . This metaphoric term alludes to the temperature at which water boils. [Second half of 1700s]

  2. have a low boiling point . Become angry quite readily, as in Don't tease her anymore—she has a low boiling point . This phrase means that it takes less heat than usual for a boiling point to be reached. [First half of 1800s] Also see boil over ; make one's blood boil .

Discover More

Water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit (see also Fahrenheit) or 100 degrees Celsius.

Etymology

Origin of boiling point

First recorded in 1765–75

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Her inner intensity expresses itself in a frenzy of volcanic feeling that can never be tamped down once it reaches its boiling point.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 15, 2025

Under the right pressure conditions, ice can form at room temperature or even at temperatures higher than its usual boiling point.

From Science Daily • Nov. 16, 2025

It can take quite a few years to get to to that boiling point.

From BBC • Nov. 7, 2025

Water transfers heat to another liquid with a lower boiling point to generate steam that spins turbines for generating electricity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 23, 2025

The Tipping Point is the moment of critical mass, the threshold, the boiling point.

From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.