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1. Dictionary

   bubble

   /ˈbʌbl/

   noun

   • 1. a thin sphere of liquid enclosing air or another gas: "blowing bubbles is a favourite pastime of many children"
   • ▪ an air- or gas-filled spherical cavity in a liquid or a solidified liquid such as glass: "the white foamy part of a broken wave is largely made up of air bubbles" Similar globulebeadblisterdropair cavityair pocketsparklefizzeffervescencemoussefrothheadlathersudsinformal:globtechnical:barm
   • 2. used to refer to a good or fortunate situation that is isolated from reality or unlikely to last: "we both lived in a bubble, the kind provided by occupying a privileged pied-à-terre in Greenwich Village" Similar illusiondelusionfantasydreampipe dreamdaydreamchimeravanitycastle in the airtransient phenomenonshort-lived phenomenoninformal:pie in the sky
   • ▪ used to refer to a significant, usually rapid, increase in asset prices that is soon followed by a collapse in prices and typically arises from speculation or enthusiasm rather than intrinsic increases in value: "the US economy squandered trillions as a result of the 1990s stock market bubble"
   • 3. a transparent domed cover or enclosure: "piglets born into a sterile bubble"
   • ▪ a place or position that is protected from danger or unpleasant reality: "they are not on tour packages seeing foreign ports from a bubble"
   • ▪ (during an outbreak of an infectious disease) a restricted group of people whose members are allowed to be in close proximity when maintaining a physical distance is otherwise required: "you cannot stay overnight in another person's home, unless you've formed a bubble with them"
   • 4. (in a cartoon or illustration) a shape resembling a cloud, balloon, or bubble, which contains text representing a character's thoughts or speech: "a speech bubble"
   • 5. a marine mollusc that typically has a thin scroll-like shell.

   verb

   • 1. (of a liquid) form rising bubbles of gas or air: "a pot of coffee bubbled away on the stove" Similar sparklefizzeffervescegurglefoamfrothspumeboilsimmerseethegurgleOpposite be flatbe still
   • ▪ make a bubbling sound: "close by, a stream bubbled along through reeds and rushes"
   • ▪ be filled with an irrepressible positive feeling: "Ellen was bubbling with enthusiasm" Similar overflowbrim overbe filledrun overgush
   • ▪ (of a feeling) become more intense and approach the point of being expressed: "the fury bubbling up inside her"

   Word Origin Middle English: partly imitative, partly an alteration of burble.

   Scrabble Points: 12

   • B

     3

   • U

     1

   • B

     3

   • B

     3

   • L

     1

   • E

     1

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