boil

noun countable medical

UK /bɔɪl/

Word Forms

singular	boil
plural	boils

1
a painful lump on your skin that has become infected and is filled with pus (=an unpleasant yellow liquid)
Synonyms and related words
Skin problems, swellings and injuries
abrasion
abscess
athlete’s foot

phrases

bring something to the boil

come to the boil

go off the boil

on the boil

take something off the boil

boil

noun countable medical

US /bɔɪl/

Word Forms

singular	boil
plural	boils

1
a painful lump on your skin that has become infected and is filled with pus (=an unpleasant yellow liquid)
Synonyms and related words
Skin problems, swellings and injuries
abrasion
abscess
athlete’s foot

phrases

come to a boil

on the boil

take something off the boil

boil

verb

UK /bɔɪl/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	boil
he/she/it	boils
present participle	boiling
past tense	boiled
past participle	boiled

1
intransitive/transitive if a liquid boils, or if you boil it, it becomes so hot that there are bubbles in it and it starts to become a gas
When the water boils, add the rice.
Boil some milk in a pan.
put something on to boil (=put liquid in a container and heat it until it boils):
She put two pans of soup on to boil.
Synonyms and related words
To change consistency - general words
atomise
atomize
bake
1. 1a
  if a container boils, or if you boil it, the liquid in it boils
  He stood in the kitchen waiting for the pan to boil.
  I’ll just boil the kettle and we can have some tea.
  boil dry (=boil until there is no liquid left):
  The saucepan had boiled dry and the carrots were burnt.
  Synonyms and related words
  To change consistency - general words
  atomise
  atomize
  bake
2
transitive to cook food in water that is boiling
How long does it take to boil an egg?
Synonyms and related words
Cook food or be cooked
bake
barbecue
baste
1. 2a
  intransitive to be cooked in water that is boiling
  The pasta needs to boil for 10 minutes.
  put something on to boil (=start to cook something in hot water):
  Can you put the vegetables on to boil, please?
  Synonyms and related words
  Cook food or be cooked
  bake
  barbecue
  baste
2. 2b
  transitive to wash clothes in water that is boiling
  Synonyms and related words
  Washing, drying and ironing clothes
  air
  boil
  the cleaners
3
intransitive to feel something such as anger very strongly
James felt the fury boiling within him.
boil with rage/anger:
Boiling with rage, Kate slammed the car door and drove off.
Synonyms and related words
To be, or to become angry or annoyed
lose your temper (with)
go mad
see red

phrases

boil the ocean

phrasal verbs

boil away

boil down

boil down to

boil over

boil up

boil

verb

US /bɔɪl/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	boil
he/she/it	boils
present participle	boiling
past tense	boiled
past participle	boiled

1
intransitive/transitive if a liquid boils, or if you boil it, it becomes so hot that there are bubbles in it and it starts to become a gas
When the water boils, add the rice.
Boil some milk in a pan.
put something on to boil (=put liquid in a container and heat it until it boils):
She put two pans of soup on to boil.
Synonyms and related words
To change consistency - general words
atomize
bake
boil
1. 1a
  if a container boils, or if you boil it, the liquid in it boils
  He stood in the kitchen waiting for the pan to boil.
  boil dry (=boil until there is no liquid left):
  The saucepan had boiled dry and the carrots were burned.
  Synonyms and related words
  To change consistency - general words
  atomize
  bake
  boil
2
transitive to cook food in water that is boiling
How long does it take to boil an egg?
Synonyms and related words
Cook food or be cooked
bake
barbecue
baste
1. 2a
  intransitive to be cooked in water that is boiling
  The pasta needs to boil for 10 minutes.
  put something on to boil (=start to cook something in hot water):
  Can you put the vegetables on to boil, please?
  Synonyms and related words
  Cook food or be cooked
  bake
  barbecue
  baste
2. 2b
  transitive to wash clothes in water that is boiling
  Synonyms and related words
  Washing, drying and ironing clothes
  air
  boil
  the cleaners
3
intransitive to feel something such as anger very strongly
James felt the fury boiling within him.
boil with rage/anger:
Boiling with rage, Kate slammed the car door and drove off.
Synonyms and related words
To be, or to become angry or annoyed
lose your temper (with)
see red
lose it

phrases

boil the ocean

phrasal verbs

boil away

boil down

boil down to

boil over

boil up

boil

boil

boil ​‌

boil ​‌

boil

boil