bring to a boil
The phrase "bring to a boil" is commonly used in cooking and chemistry to describe heating a liquid until it bubbles, as well as figuratively to indicate escalating a situation to a peak intensity.
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Definition
B1Cooking
To heat a liquid until it starts to bubble and steam.
Example
- Bring the water to a boil before adding the pasta.
- She waited for the soup to come to a boil before lowering the heat.
B2Chemistry
(technical)To heat a liquid until it reaches its boiling point, causing vigorous bubbling.
Example
- The solution must be brought to a boil for the reaction to occur.
C1Figurative
(idiom)To escalate a situation or emotion to a peak intensity.
Example
- The argument between the two colleagues was brought to a boil during the meeting.
- Public outrage was brought to a boil by the controversial decision.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "bring to a boil":
come to a boilboil upboil overon the boilboil offboil washboil downsimmer upbroil upbring toboiling pointturn up the heatkeep the pot boilingput the pot on