bubble
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.
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.
to cause to bubble; make bubbles in.
Archaic. to cheat; deceive; swindle.
bubble over, to become lively: The last time I saw her she was bubbling over with enthusiasm.
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
1Other words from bubble
- bub·ble·less, adjective
- bub·ble·like, adjective
- bub·bling·ly, adverb
Words that may be confused with bubble
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
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 PostWhen 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.
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 PostIn 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.
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 | THE DAILY BEASTI 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 | THE DAILY BEASTMost 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 | THE DAILY BEASTIn 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 | THE 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 | THE DAILY BEASTAt lunch he was the greatest possible fun, bubbling over with jokes and witty sallies.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I | Ian HamiltonAll this bubbling of sap and slipping of sheaths and bursting of calyxes was carried to her on mingled currents of fragrance.
Summer | Edith WhartonIn 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. BallantyneThen 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 SueThen 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
/ (ˈbʌbəl) /
a thin film of liquid forming a hollow globule around air or a gas: a 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
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
Origin of bubble
1- See also bubble under
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
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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