bubble
BUHB-l
Bubble (noun) means a thin, round pocket of air or gas inside a liquid or solid, or floating freely. Example: “A small bubble got trapped under the sticker and made it look crooked.”
noun
1
A thin, round pocket of air or gas inside a liquid or solid, or floating freely.
"A small bubble got trapped under the sticker and made it look crooked."
"The children chased bubbles across the garden."
"Bubbles rose steadily from the bottom of the fish tank."
2
An unsustainable rise in prices or popularity, particularly in markets, followed by a sharp collapse.
"Prices for rare collectables felt like a bubble that nobody wanted to question."
"Analysts warned the housing bubble would eventually burst."
"The dot-com bubble wiped out billions in investor wealth."
verb
1
To form or produce bubbles.
"Hot mud began to bubble up through the cracks in the ground."
"The soup began to bubble gently on the stove."
"Champagne bubbled over the rim of the glass."
How to use bubble
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small pocket of gas in liquid, or by extension, something inflated and fragile — like an overheated market.
Common mistake
In the economic sense, a "bubble" specifically implies unsustainable growth followed by collapse, not just any price rise.
Common pairings
blow bubbles
housing bubble
burst the bubble
bubble bath
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- bubbles
- Past tense
- bubbled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A small _____ got trapped under the sticker and made it look crooked.
Etymology
Likely imitative of the sound bubbles make, related to "burble." The financial sense dates to the 1720 collapse of the South Sea Company, compared to an inflated soap bubble bursting.
Class of 1720
bubble joined the language around 1720.
See the full Class of 1720 →
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for bubble
See all rhymes for bubble →Frequently asked questions
What does “bubble” mean?
The word “bubble” means a thin, round pocket of air or gas inside a liquid or solid, or floating freely. In plain terms, a small pocket of gas in liquid, or by extension, something inflated and fragile — like an overheated market.
How do you pronounce “bubble”?
“Bubble” is pronounced BUHB-l (/ˈbʌb.l̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “bubble” in a sentence?
Here is “bubble” used in a sentence: “The children chased bubbles across the garden.”
What part of speech is “bubble”?
Depending on how it is used, “bubble” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “bubble” come from?
The word “bubble” dates back to around 1720. Likely imitative of the sound bubbles make, related to "burble." The financial sense dates to the 1720 collapse of the South Sea Company, compared to an inflated soap bubble bursting.
Is “bubble” a common word?
“Bubble” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “bubble” have?
“Bubble” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a thin, round pocket of air or gas inside a liquid or solid, or floating freely.
What is the difference between a "bubble" and "foam"?
A bubble is a single thin pocket of air or gas inside or on a liquid, while foam is a mass of many small bubbles packed together. In short, foam is made up of countless bubbles.
What is the difference between a "bubble" and a "blister"?
A bubble is a rounded pocket of air or gas in a liquid or floating freely, whereas a blister is a raised pocket of fluid under the skin or a similar bulge on a surface. Both are dome-shaped, but a blister forms on solid skin or material rather than in liquid.
What is the difference between "bubble" as a noun and "bubble" as a verb?
As a noun, a bubble is the air- or gas-filled pocket itself. As a verb, to bubble means to form or produce bubbles, as when water bubbles as it boils.
What things commonly "bubble" (verb)?
Liquids such as boiling water, simmering soup, and fizzy drinks are commonly said to bubble as they form or release bubbles. The verb describes the active production of bubbles rather than a single bubble.
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