Boil Meaning
Boil Definition & Usage
To heat a liquid to the point where it reaches its boiling point and starts to bubble.
Examples
- "I boiled some water to make tea."
- "The soup is boiling, so turn down the heat."
- "She boiled the potatoes for 20 minutes."
- "Make sure the water boils before adding the pasta."
- "We need to wait for the water to boil before we can cook the eggs."
To be under extreme heat or pressure, often referring to emotional states or situations.
Examples
- "She was boiling with anger after hearing the news."
- "His frustration was boiling over during the meeting."
- "I could see the tension boiling in the room as they debated."
- "The workers were boiling with resentment after the unfair treatment."
- "They could barely contain their boiling excitement before the concert."
To become agitated or irritated, especially in response to something unpleasant or stressful.
Examples
- "He’s been boiling since he found out about the deadline."
- "She’s really boiling over the way they handled the situation."
- "Don’t boil; it’s not worth getting worked up about."
- "Stop boiling, it’s just a small issue."
- "The boss was boiling after hearing the news from HR."
The process or action of heating something to the boiling point.
Examples
- "The boil of the water made the room feel warm."
- "He watched the boil of the soup closely to prevent it from spilling over."
- "The boil in the pot began to subside after a few minutes."
- "We waited for the boil to die down before adding more ingredients."
- "A rapid boil is ideal for cooking pasta."
Cultural Context
The word 'boil' has been in use since the Middle Ages, deriving from Latin and French roots. It has a literal meaning related to heating liquids, but over time, it also acquired figurative meanings related to extreme emotions, especially anger. In many cultures, boiling water is essential in cooking and even in traditional remedies, symbolizing purification or intense activity.
The Boiling Point
Story
The Boiling Point
One Sunday afternoon, Sarah found herself standing in her kitchen, staring at the pot on the stove. She had just filled it with water, but it felt like she was waiting for something more. The heat gradually began to build, the water slowly started to boil, and with it, her thoughts began to churn like the rising bubbles in the pot. The argument she’d had with her coworker earlier that week was still on her mind. Sarah could feel her frustration bubbling up once more. As the water began to bubble violently, she muttered to herself, 'It’s just like that meeting—everything boiling over.' With a sigh, she turned off the heat and watched as the bubbles slowly died down. 'I’m not going to let this get to me,' she told herself. But deep down, she knew she was boiling over with anger. Later that evening, Sarah met her friend Emma for coffee. As they chatted, Sarah could tell that Emma was also on edge. 'You’re boiling,' Sarah said with a knowing smile. Emma laughed, but then nodded. 'I think it’s work. The pressure’s been building for weeks, and today, it just… boiled over.' Over coffee, they joked about their boiling emotions, but they also talked seriously about how to manage stress. Sometimes, they agreed, it’s about knowing when to simmer down before things boil over completely.
Related Words
