a nearly spherical body of gas contained in a liquid.
a small globule of gas in a thin liquid envelope.
a globule of air or gas, or a globular vacuum, contained in a solid.
anything that lacks firmness, substance, or permanence; an illusion or delusion.
an inflated speculation, especially if fraudulent: The real-estate bubble ruined many investors.
the act or sound of bubbling.
a spherical or nearly spherical canopy or shelter; dome: The bombing plane bristled with machine-gun bubbles. A network of radar bubbles stretches across northern Canada.
a domelike structure, usually of inflated plastic, used to enclose a swimming pool, tennis court, etc.
Informal. a protected, exempt, or unique area, industry, etc.: The oasis is a bubble of green in the middle of the desert.
an area that can be defended, protected, patrolled, etc., or that comes under one's jurisdiction: The carrier fleet's bubble includes the Hawaiian Islands.
a sudden, small, temporary change or divergence from a trend: In May there was a bubble in car sales, with three percent more being sold than last year.
verb (used without object),bub·bled,bub·bling.
to form, produce, or release bubbles; effervesce.
to flow or spout with a gurgling noise; gurgle.
to boil: The tea bubbled in the pot.
to speak, move, issue forth, or exist in a lively, sparkling manner; exude cheer: The play bubbled with songs and dances.
to seethe or stir, as with excitement: His mind bubbles with plans and schemes.
verb (used with object),bub·bled,bub·bling.
to cause to bubble; make bubbles in.
Archaic. to cheat; deceive; swindle.
Verb Phrases
bubble over, to become lively: The last time I saw her she was bubbling over with enthusiasm.
Origin of bubble
1350–1400;Middle Englishbobel (noun); cognate with Middle Dutchbobbel,Middle Low Germanbubbele,Swbubbla
Related formsbub·ble·less, adjectivebub·ble·like, adjectivebub·bling·ly, adverbCan be confusedbabbleBabelbaublebubble
early 14c., perhaps from Middle Dutch bobbel (n.) and/or Middle Low German bubbeln (v.), all probably of echoic origin. Bubble bath first recorded 1949. Of financial schemes originally in South Sea Bubble (1590s), on notion of "fragile and insubstantial."
v.
mid-15c., perhaps from bubble (n.) and/or from Middle Low German bubbeln (v.), probably of echoic origin. Related: Bubbled; bubbling.
A period of wild speculation in which the price of a commodity or stock or an entire market is inflated far beyond its real value. Bubbles are said to “burst” when a general awareness of the folly emerges and the price drops.
