<p><strong>Verb (used without object)</strong></p><ul><li>to change from a liquid to a gaseous state, producing bubbles of gas that rise to the surface of the liquid, agitating it as they rise: Water boils at 100°C.</li><li>to reach or be brought to the boiling point: When the water boils, add the meat and cabbage.</li><li>to be in an agitated or violent state: The sea boiled in the storm.</li><li>to be deeply stirred or upset: I didn’t dare open my mouth, as I was boiling with rage.</li><li>to contain, or be contained in, a liquid that boils: The kettle is boiling. The vegetables are boiling.</li></ul><p><strong>Verb (used with object)</strong></p><ul><li>to cause to boil or to bring to the boiling point: Boil two cups of water.</li><li>to cook (something) in boiling water: Don’t boil the eggs too long if you want soft yolks.</li><li>to separate (sugar, salt, etc.) from a solution containing it by boiling off the liquid: A basic candy can be made by simply boiling sugar in a pan.</li></ul><p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>the act, state, or condition of boiling: He brought a kettle of water to a boil.</li><li>a social event at which food is cooked in boiling water: We celebrated harvest and the end of summer with a corn boil in the backyard.</li><li>an area of agitated, swirling, bubbling water, such as part of a rapids: My flashlight beam shone on the boil of the river as it beat against the bridge’s foundations.</li><li>also called blow: an unwanted flow of water and solid matter into an excavation, due to excessive outside water pressure.</li></ul><p><strong>Verb phrase</strong></p><ul><li>to overflow while boiling or as if while boiling; burst forth; erupt: Your soup boiled over and made a mess on the stove.</li><li>to be unable to suppress anger, excitement, etc.: Any mention of the incident makes her boil over.</li><li>to clear deposits of calcium, minerals, etc., from (a vehicle’s radiator) by immersing it in boiling water for a time.</li><li>to eliminate by or as if by boiling: Unlike the germs in your drinking water, lead can't be boiled out.</li></ul>