Words / B1

BUBL/ˈbʌbl/

A bubble is a ball of air in a liquid, or a thin round film of liquid: soap bubbles; bubbles in fizzy water. Foam is many tiny bubbles together. Bubble can also describe an isolated group (a social bubble) or a market that grows too fast (a housing bubble) in news English. Burst a bubble is both literal and a metaphor for ending an illusion. Do not use bubble for a balloon — a balloon is thicker and filled on purpose.

Meaning

A ball of air in a liquid, or a similar round shape of liquid.

Examples

• “The children blew bubbles in the garden.”
• “Fizzy water loses its bubbles if you leave the bottle open.”
• “When house prices fell, the housing bubble burst.”

Good to know

soap bubbles. fizzy drinks. Metaphor: a housing / social bubble. Many tiny ones: foam. Not a balloon.

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