3 VERB [only cont] When a kettle or pan is boiling , the water inside it has reached boiling point. □ [V ] Is the kettle boiling?
4 VERB When you boil food, or when it boils , it is cooked in boiling water. □ [V n] Boil the chick peas, add garlic and lemon juice. □ [V ] I'd peel potatoes and put them on to boil. □ [V -ed] …boiled eggs and toast.
5 VERB [usu cont] If you are boiling with anger, you are very angry. □ [V + with ] I used to be all sweetness and light on the outside, but inside I would be boiling with rage.
6 N‑COUNT A boil is a red, painful swelling on your skin, which contains a thick yellow liquid called pus.
7 → see also boiling
8 PHRASE When you bring a liquid to the boil , you heat it until it boils. When it comes to the boil , it begins to boil. □ Put water, butter and lard into a saucepan and bring slowly to the boil.
9 to make someone's blood boil → see blood
▸ boil down PHRASAL VERB When you boil down a liquid or food, or when it boils down , it is boiled until there is less of it because some of the water in it has changed into steam or vapour. □ [V P n] He boils down the sauce and uses what's left.
▸ boil down to PHRASAL VERB If you say that a situation or problem boils down to a particular thing or can be boiled down to a particular thing, you mean that this is the most important or the most basic aspect of it. □ [V P P n] What they want boils down to just one thing. It is land.
▸ boil over
1 PHRASAL VERB When a liquid that is being heated boils over , it rises and flows over the edge of the container. □ [V P ] Heat the liquid in a large, wide container rather than a high narrow one, or it can boil over.
2 PHRASAL VERB When someone's feelings boil over , they lose their temper or become violent. □ [V P ] Sometimes frustration and anger can boil over into direct and violent action.
boi led swee t (boiled sweets ) N‑COUNT Boiled sweets are hard sweets that are made from boiled sugar. [BRIT ] in AM, use hard candy
boil|er /bɔ I lə r / (boilers ) N‑COUNT A boiler is a device which burns gas, oil, electricity, or coal in order to provide hot water, especially for the central heating in a building.
boil|er|plate /bɔ I lə r ple I t/ (boilerplates ) N‑VAR A boilerplate is a basic written contract that can be used to make many different kinds of contracts. □ …a predictable boilerplate of tax-relief proposals.
boi l|er suit (boiler suits ) N‑COUNT A boiler suit consists of a single piece of clothing that combines trousers and a jacket. You wear it over your clothes in order to protect them from dirt while you are working. [BRIT ] in AM, use overalls
boil|ing /bɔ I l I ŋ/
1 ADJ Something that is boiling or boiling hot is very hot. □ 'It's boiling in here,' complained Miriam. □ Often the food may be bubbling and boiling hot on the top, but the inside may still be cold.
2 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you say that you are boiling or boiling hot , you mean that you feel very hot, usually unpleasantly hot. □ When everybody else is boiling hot, I'm freezing!
boi l|ing point also boiling-point
1 N‑UNCOUNT The boiling point of a liquid is the temperature at which it starts to change into steam or vapour. For example, the boiling point of water is 100° centigrade. □ The boiling point of water is mercury is 356.7° C. □ Heat the cream to boiling point and pour three quarters of it over the chocolate.
2 N‑UNCOUNT If a situation reaches boiling point , the people involved have become so angry that they can no longer remain calm and in control of themselves. □ The situation is rapidly reaching boiling point, and the army has been put on stand-by.
bois|ter|ous /bɔ I stərəs/ ADJ Someone who is boisterous is noisy, lively, and full of energy. □ …a boisterous but good-natured crowd. □ Most of the children were noisy and boisterous. ● bois|ter|ous|ly ADV [ADV with v, ADV adj] □ Her friends laughed boisterously, too.
bold /boʊ ld/ (bolder , boldest )
1 ADJ Someone who is bold is not afraid to do things which involve risk or danger. □ Amrita becomes a bold, daring rebel. □ In 1960 this was a bold move. □ Poland was already making bold economic reforms. ● bold|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ You can and must act boldly and confidently. ● bold|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ Don't forget the boldness of his economic programme.
2 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] Someone who is bold is not shy or embarrassed in the company of other people. □ I don't feel I'm being bold, because it's always been natural for me to just speak out. ● bold|ly ADV □ 'You should do it,' the girl said, boldly.
3 ADJ A bold colour or pattern is very bright and noticeable. □ …bold flowers in various shades of red, blue or white. □ …bold, dramatic colours. ● bold|ly ADV □ The design is pretty startling and very boldly coloured.
4 ADJ Bold lines or designs are drawn in a clear, strong way. □ Each picture is shown in colour on one page and as a bold outline on the opposite page.
5 N‑UNCOUNT [usu N n] Bold is print which is thicker and looks blacker than ordinary printed letters. [TECHNICAL ]
bo|lero (boleros ) Pronounced /bɒ ləroʊ, [AM ] bəle roʊ/ for meaning 1 , and /bəleə roʊ/ for meaning 2 . 1 N‑COUNT A bolero is a very short jacket, sometimes without sleeves. Boleros are worn mainly by women.