From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:
bubble
n 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" [syn: {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
v 1: form, produce, or emit bubbles; "The soup was bubbling"
2: flow in an irregular current with a bubbling noise;
"babbling brooks" [syn: ripple, babble, guggle,
burble, gurgle]
3: expel gas from the stomach; "In China it is polite to burp
at the table" [syn: burp, belch, eruct]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [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.
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Beads of sweat have stood upon thy brow,
Like bubbles in a late disturbed stream. --Shak.
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2. A small quantity of air or gas within a liquid body; as,
bubbles rising in champagne or a["e]rated waters.
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3. A globule of air, or globular vacuum, in a transparent
solid; as, bubbles in window glass, or in a lens.
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4. A small, hollow, floating bead or globe, formerly used for
testing the strength of spirits.
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5. The globule of air in the spirit tube of a level.
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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.
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Then a soldier . . .
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth. --Shak.
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7. A person deceived by an empty project; a gull. [Obs.]
"Ganny's a cheat, and I'm a bubble." --Prior.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
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.
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The milk that bubbled in the pail. --Tennyson.
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2. To run with a gurgling noise, as if forming bubbles; as, a
bubbling stream. --Pope.
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3. To sing with a gurgling or warbling sound.
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At mine ear
Bubbled the nightingale and heeded not. --Tennyson.
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