bubble

[buhb-uhl]

noun

1. a nearly spherical body of gas contained in a liquid.

2. a small globule of gas in a thin liquid envelope.

3. a globule of air or gas, or a globular vacuum, contained in a solid.

4. anything that lacks firmness, substance, or permanence; an illusion or delusion.

5. the act or sound of bubbling.

6. 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.

7. a domelike structure, usually of inflated plastic, used to enclose a swimming pool, tennis court, etc.

8. a protected, exempt, or unique area, industry, etc..

   The oasis is a bubble of green in the middle of the desert.

9. 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.

10. a zone of cognitive or psychological isolation, in which one’s preexisting ideas are reinforced through interactions with like-minded people or those with similar social identities.

    You can’t live in your own partisan political bubble 364 days of the year and then expect to happily reconnect with your family at Thanksgiving.

11. 1. a group or circle of people who interact or socialize with one another because of familial ties, shared interests, etc..

       I do try to expand my social bubble and look for opportunities to make new friends.

    2. pod. a small group of people who interact or socialize exclusively with one another in order to contain the spread of a contagious disease.

       I’m only getting together with my quarantine bubble of five family members.

12. Economics.

    1. Also called speculative bubble. Also called asset price bubble. an inflated speculation that causes an unsustainable increase in the value of goods, property, or other investment.

       The real-estate bubble ruined many investors when it burst.

    2. a sudden, 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)

bubbled, bubbling 

1. to form, produce, or release bubbles; effervesce.

2. to flow or spout with a gurgling noise; gurgle.

3. to boil.

   The water bubbled in the pot.

4. to speak, move, issue forth, or exist in a lively, sparkling manner; exude cheer.

   The play bubbled with songs and dances.

5. to seethe or stir, as with excitement.

   His mind bubbles with plans and schemes.

verb (used with object)

bubbled, bubbling 

1. to cause to bubble; make bubbles in.

2. Archaic.,  to cheat; deceive; swindle.

verb phrase

1. bubble over,  to become lively.

   The last time I saw her she was bubbling over with enthusiasm.

bubble

/ ˈbʌbəl /

noun

1. a thin film of liquid forming a hollow globule around air or a gas

   a soap bubble

2. a small globule of air or a gas in a liquid or a solid, as in carbonated drinks, glass, etc

3. the sound made by a bubbling liquid

4. something lacking substance, stability, or seriousness

5. an unreliable scheme or enterprise

6. a dome, esp a transparent glass or plastic one

verb

1. to form or cause to form bubbles

2. (intr) to move or flow with a gurgling sound

3. to overflow (with excitement, anger, etc)

4. (intr) to snivel; blubber

bubble

1. 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.

Other Word Forms

• bubbleless adjective
• bubblelike adjective
• bubblingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of bubble¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English noun bobel; cognate with Middle Dutch bobbel, bubbel, Middle Low German bubbele, Swedish bubbla

Word History and Origins

Origin of bubble¹

C14: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Swedish bubbla , Danish boble , Dutch bobbel , all of imitative origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. burst someone’s bubble, to diminish someone’s enthusiasm or optimism, especially with a reminder of sobering facts or realistic expectations.

Example Sentences

Today’s version of that is worry about stretched valuations, a bubble in artificial intelligence stocks, weakness in the job market, and a lack of government data showing how bad things are.

Read more on Barron's

Headlines about a possible AI bubble have begun to appear in response to reports of AI generating zero returns, and fears that companies will have to starting issuing debt to support outsize capital spending.

Read more on Barron's

The stock market may be bubbly, but it isn’t in a bubble, Walsh says.

Read more on Barron's

But concerns about a possible AI bubble are running amok, as stretched valuations within the technology sector draw an increasing amount of scrutiny.

Read more on Barron's

“Thus, this is not a bubble, and we are still in the early innings of this investment cycle,” the analysts said.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• boil 
• burble 
• churn 
• erupt 
• fester 
• gurgle 
• gush 
• percolate 
• seep 
• seethe 
• simmer 
• smolder 
• sparkle 
• stir 
• trickle