bubble

[ buhb-uhl ]

/ ˈbʌb əl /

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See synonyms for: bubble / bubbled / bubbles / bubbling on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

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.

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 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.

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.
Also called 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.

Economics.

Also called spec·u·la·tive bub·ble [spek-yuh-luh-tiv buhb-uhl], /ˈspɛk yəˌlə tɪv ˈbʌb əl/, as·set price bub·ble [as-et prahys-buhb-uhl] /ˈæs ɛt ˈpraɪs ˈbʌb əl/ . 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.
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), bub·bled, bub·bling.

to form, produce, or release bubbles; effervesce.

to flow or spout with a gurgling noise; gurgle.

to boil: The water 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.

QUIZ

TAKE JOY IN ACING THIS QUIZ ON “PRIDE” SYNONYMS

Hold your head up high as you embark on this quiz that explores some of the synonyms and meanings of “pride.”

Question 1 of 7

What does "dignity" mean?

showing self-respect

treating others with kindness

acting selfishly

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about bubble

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

Origin of bubble

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

OTHER WORDS FROM bubble

bub·ble·less, adjectivebub·ble·like, adjectivebub·bling·ly, adverb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH bubble

babble, bauble, bubble

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use bubble in a sentence

“This could metastasize into a much more traditional recession, and those who have been able to work from home and not had to experience the pain of the broader economy may see those bubbles burst,” Swonk said.
Unemployment claims rise as pandemic shutdowns increase nationwide|Eli Rosenberg|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
When we were able to watch these games in the bubble, if you were paying attention, you were able to hear so much more of the communication on the court, because there were no fans making noise.
On Sports Genius: Mike Greenberg Opens Up|Nick Fouriezos|November 14, 2020|Ozy
Switch to a silicone spatula and continue to stir until the mixture comes to a boil — ideally, look for fat bubbles breaking the surface near the center of the saucepan.
Dig into this fall-spice pudding pie nestled in a nut crust and topped with whipped cream|Erin Jeanne McDowell|November 12, 2020|Washington Post
In the last quarter, law firm Cooley found that funding rounds that resulted in an uptick in valuations fell to their lowest level since the first quarter of 2017, when fears of a tech bubble soared but never quite found a cliff.
Flat rounds creep up|Lucinda Shen|November 12, 2020|Fortune

They learned plenty about the virus, and time helped the NBA, WNBA and NHL develop bubble concepts to complete their seasons.
Sports were a distraction from the pandemic. Now they’re being battered by it.|Jerry Brewer|November 12, 2020|Washington Post
The shared feelings, the bubbling emotion, the awe: she became an experience.
Bow Down, Bitches: How Beyoncé Turned an Elevator Brawl Into a Perfect Year|Kevin Fallon|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I ask him where the hate bubbling beneath the surface comes from—a rage best exhibited by his SERENITY NOW!
Adam Sandler Talks Getting Fired From ‘SNL,’ Bad Reviews, and His Desire to Play a Villain|Marlow Stern|September 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Most of all, Orman reflects a bubbling Main Street frustration with hyper-partisan gridlock.
The Kansas Independent Who Could Control the Senate|John Avlon|September 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In L.A., the really exhilarant cooking was bubbling up from the bottom, not trickling down from the top.
Why Los Angeles Is the Best Food Town in America|Andrew Romano|November 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST
“But now the lid is coming off and overt racism is bubbling out,” says Bennett.
Ghosts of the Confederacy Out in Force as Fringe Rules GOP|Eleanor Clift|October 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST
At lunch he was the greatest possible fun, bubbling over with jokes and witty sallies.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
All this bubbling of sap and slipping of sheaths and bursting of calyxes was carried to her on mingled currents of fragrance.
Summer|Edith Wharton
In the midst of its heaving waters he quickly arose flinging his long arms wildly about, and shouting for help with bubbling cry.
Hunted and Harried|R.M. Ballantyne
Then the preceptor saw no more, save a wider, deeper bubbling in the spot where he had discovered the body.
The Seven Cardinal Sins: Envy and Indolence|Eugne Sue
Then the water boils over and finally becomes a bubbling volcano which readily ejects the contents of the jar.
The Boy Mechanic, Book 2|Various

British Dictionary definitions for bubble

bubble

/ (ˈbʌbəl) /

noun

a thin film of liquid forming a hollow globule around air or a gasa soap bubble

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

the sound made by a bubbling liquid

something lacking substance, stability, or seriousness

an unreliable scheme or enterprise

a dome, esp a transparent glass or plastic one

verb

to form or cause to form bubbles

(intr) to move or flow with a gurgling sound

(intr; often foll by over) to overflow (with excitement, anger, etc)

(intr) Scot to snivel; blubber

Word Origin for bubble

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

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

Cultural definitions for bubble

bubble

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.

bubble

Idioms about bubble

Origin of bubble

OTHER WORDS FROM bubble

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH bubble

Words related to bubble

How to use bubble in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bubble

Word Origin for bubble

Cultural definitions for bubble