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Entry 10 senses · 2 variants Webster, 1913

Bubble

/bŭb'-əl/ · Bub·ble · IPA /ˈbʌbl̩/
01 n. A thin film of liquid inflated with air or gas; as, a soap bubble; bubbles on the surface of a river.
  1. 1.
    A thin film of liquid inflated with air or gas; as, a soap bubble; bubbles on the surface of a river.
    “Beads of sweat have stood upon thy brow, Like bubbles in a late disturbed stream.” — Shak.
  2. 2.
    A small quantity of air or gas within a liquid body; as, bubbles rising in champagne or aërated waters.
  3. 3.
    A globule of air, or globular vacuum, in a transparent solid; as, bubbles in window glass, or in a lens.
  4. 4.
    A small, hollow, floating bead or globe, formerly used for testing the strength of spirits.
  5. 5.
    The globule of air in the spirit tube of a level.
  6. 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.
    “Then a soldier . . . Seeking the bubble reputation Even in the cannon's mouth.” — Shak.
  7. 7.
    A person deceived by an empty project; a gull.[Obs.]
02 v. i. To rise in bubbles, as liquids when boiling or agitated; to contain bubbles.
imp. & p. p. Bubbled; p. pr. & vb. n. Bubbling
  1. 1.
    To rise in bubbles, as liquids when boiling or agitated; to contain bubbles.
    “The milk that bubbled in the pail.” — Tennyson.
  2. 2.
    To run with a gurgling noise, as if forming bubbles; as, a bubbling stream.
  3. 3.
    To sing with a gurgling or warbling sound.
    “At mine ear Bubbled the nightingale and heeded not.” — Tennyson.