Boil (boil), v. i. [imp. & p. p.Boiled (boild); p. pr. & vb. n.Boiling.] [OE. boilen, OF. boilir, builir, F. bouillir, fr. L. bullire to be in a bubbling motion, from bulla bubble; akin to Gr. �, Lith. bumbuls. Cf. Bull an edict, Budge, v., and Ebullition.] 1. To be agitated, or tumultuously moved, as a liquid by the generation and rising of bubbles of steam (or vapor), or of currents produced by heating it to the boiling point; to be in a state of ebullition; as, the water boils.
2. To be agitated like boiling water, by any other cause than heat; to bubble; to effervesce; as, the boiling waves.
He maketh the deep to boil like a pot.
Job xii. 31.
3. To pass from a liquid to an aëriform state or vapor when heated; as, the water boils away.
4. To be moved or excited with passion; to be hot or fervid; as, his blood boils with anger.
Then boiled my breast with flame and burning wrath.
Surrey.
5. To be in boiling water, as in cooking; as, the potatoes are boiling.
To boil away, to vaporize; to evaporate or be evaporated by the action of heat. — To boil over, to run over the top of a vessel, as liquid when thrown into violent agitation by heat or other cause of effervescence; to be excited with ardor or passion so as to lose self-control.