- 1[intransitive, transitive] when a liquid boils or when you boil it, it is heated to the point where it forms bubbles and turns to steam or vapor The water was bubbling and boiling away. boil something Boil plenty of salted water, then add the spaghetti.
- 2[intransitive, transitive] when a kettle, pan, etc. boils or when you boil a kettle, etc., it is heated until the water inside it boils The kettle is boiling. boil something Boil a large pot of water. + adj. She left the burner on by mistake and the pot boiled dry (= the water boiled until there was none left).
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3[intransitive, transitive] to cook or wash something in boiling water; to be cooked or washed in boiling water She put some potatoes on to boil. boil something boiled carrots/cabbage to boil an egg for someone boil somebody something to boil someone an egg Topic CollocationsCookingpreparing
- prepare a dish/a meal/a menu/dinner/the fish
- weigh out 4oz of sugar/the ingredients
- wash/rinse the lettuce/spinach
- chop/slice/dice the carrots/onions/potatoes
- peel the carrots/onion/potatoes/garlic/orange
- grate a carrot/the cheese/some nutmeg
- remove/discard the bones/seeds/skin/rind/peel
- blend/combine/mix (together) the flour and water/all the ingredients
- beat/whisk the cream/eggs/egg whites
- knead/shape/roll (out) the dough
- heat the oil in a frying pan
- preheat/heat the oven/the broiler
- bring to a boil
- stir constantly/gently with a wooden spoon
- reduce the heat
- simmer gently for 20 minutes/until reduced by half
- melt the butter/chocolate/cheese
- dissolve the sugar in water
- brown the meat for 8-10 minutes
- drain the pasta/the water from the pot/in a colander/in a strainer
- mash the potatoes/banana/avocado
- cook food/fish/meat/rice/pasta/a Mexican dish
- bake (a loaf of) bread/a cake/a pie/potatoes/muffins/cookies/fish
- boil cabbage/potatoes/an egg/a hot dog/water
- fry/deep-fry/stir-fry the chicken/vegetables
- broil meat/steak/chicken/sausages
- roast potatoes/peppers/meat/chicken/beef
- sauté garlic/mushrooms/onions/potatoes/vegetables
- steam rice/vegetables/spinach/asparagus/dumplings
- toast bread/nuts
- microwave food/popcorn/a frozen dinner/a TV dinner
- serve in a glass/on a bed of rice/with potatoes
- arrange the slices on a plate/in layers
- carve the meat/chicken/turkey
- dress/toss a salad
- dress with/drizzle with olive oil/vinaigrette
- top with a slice of lemon/a scoop of ice cream/whipped cream/syrup
- garnish with a sprig of parsley/fresh basil leaves/lemon wedges/a slice of lime/a twist of orange
- sprinkle with salt/sugar/herbs/parsley/freshly ground black pepper
- 4[intransitive] boil (with something) if you boil with anger, etc. or anger, etc. boils inside you, you are very angry He was boiling with rage. She wanted to vent the fury boiling within her. Idioms
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NAmE//bɔɪl//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they boil he / she / it boils
past simple boiled
-ing form boiling
to make someone extremely angry The way he treats his employees really makes my blood boil.
used to say that when you are impatient for something to happen, time seems to pass very slowly Phrasal Verbsboil downboil down toboil overboil up
Check pronunciation: boil