boil

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
boil1

▶verb

• 1 (with reference to a liquid) reach or cause to reach the temperature at which it bubbles and turns to vapour.

• 2 (with reference to food) cook or be cooked by immersion in boiling water.

• 3 (of the sea or clouds) be turbulent and stormy.

  ■ (of a person or emotion) be stirred up or inflamed.

  ■ (boil over) become so excited or tense as to lose control.

• 4 (boil down to) amount to.

▶noun

• 1 the act or process of boiling.

  ■ boiling point.

• 2 Fishing a sudden rise of a fish at a fly.

– phrases
keep the pot boiling maintain the brisk momentum or interest value of something.

– origin ME: from OFr. boillir, from L. bullire ‘to bubble’, from bulla ‘bubble’.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
boil2

▶noun an inflamed pus-filled swelling on the skin.

– origin OE bȳle, bȳl, of W. Gmc origin.