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, bubble]
    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,
       bubble, gurgle]
    3: rise in bubbles or as if in bubbles; "bubble to the surface"
    4: cause to form bubbles; "bubble gas through a liquid"
    5: expel gas from the stomach; "In China it is polite to burp at
       the table" [syn: burp, bubble, belch, eruct]

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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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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