bubble

Noun · Verb
Synonyms: house of cardsripplebabbleguggleburblegurgleburpbelcheruct

WordNet 3.0

Noun (4)

  1. a hollow globule of gas (e.g., air or carbon dioxide)
  2. a speculative scheme that depends on unstable factors that the planner cannot control“his proposal was nothing but a house of cards”“a real estate bubble”Synonyms: house of cards
  3. an impracticable and illusory idea“he didn't want to burst the newcomer's bubble”
  4. a dome-shaped covering made of transparent glass or plastic

Verb (5)

  1. form, produce, or emit bubbles“The soup was bubbling”
  2. flow in an irregular current with a bubbling noise“babbling brooks”Synonyms: ripplebabbleguggleburblegurgle
  3. rise in bubbles or as if in bubbles“bubble to the surface”
  4. cause to form bubbles“bubble gas through a liquid”
  5. expel gas from the stomach“In China it is polite to burp at the table”Synonyms: burpbelcheruct
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Bubble \Bub"ble\, n. [Cf. D. bobbel, Dan. boble, Sw. bubbla. Cf. Blob, n.]

1.A thin film of liquid inflated with air or gas; as, a soap bubble; bubbles on the surface of a river. [1913 Webster]

Beads of sweat have stood upon thy brow, Like bubbles in a late disturbed stream.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

2.A small quantity of air or gas within a liquid body; as, bubbles rising in champagne or a["e]rated waters. [1913 Webster]

3.A globule of air, or globular vacuum, in a transparent solid; as, bubbles in window glass, or in a lens. [1913 Webster]

4.A small, hollow, floating bead or globe, formerly used for testing the strength of spirits. [1913 Webster]

5.The globule of air in the spirit tube of a level. [1913 Webster]

6.Anything that wants firmness or solidity; that which is more specious than real; a false show; a cheat or fraud; a delusive scheme; an empty project; a dishonest speculation; as, the South Sea bubble. [1913 Webster]

Then a soldier . . . Seeking the bubble reputation Even in the cannon's mouth.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

7.A person deceived by an empty project; a gull. [Obs.] "Ganny's a cheat, and I'm a bubble." --Prior. [1913 Webster]

Bubble \Bub"ble\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bubbled; p. pr. & vb. n. Bubbling.] [Cf. D. bobbelen, Dan. boble. See Bubble, n.]

1.To rise in bubbles, as liquids when boiling or agitated; to contain bubbles. [1913 Webster]

The milk that bubbled in the pail.— Tennyson.[1913 Webster]

2.To run with a gurgling noise, as if forming bubbles; as, a bubbling stream. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

3.To sing with a gurgling or warbling sound. [1913 Webster]

At mine ear Bubbled the nightingale and heeded not.— Tennyson.[1913 Webster]
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