- with obj. heat (a liquid) to the temperature at which it bubbles and turns to vapour煮沸, 烧开：
we tried to get people to boil their drinking water
我们试图让人们把饮用水煮沸
I'll boil up the stock.
我要把汤汁烧开。
- no obj.(of a liquid) be at or reach this temperature（液体）沸腾, 达到沸点：
he waited for the water to boil
他等水开
check that the water has not boiled away
注意一下水不要烧干了。
- heat (a kettle, pan, or other container) until the liquid in it reaches such a temperature把（壶、锅等）里面的液体煮沸：
she boiled the kettle and took down a couple of mugs.
她把壶水烧开, 然后拿出几个茶缸。
- no obj.(of a container) be heated until the liquid in it reaches such a temperature（容器）煮沸, 烧开：
the kettle boiled and he filled the teapot.
壶水烧开了, 他把茶壶倒满。
- with obj. subject (something) to the heat of boiling liquid, in particular煮, 烫, 尤指：
- cook (food) by immersing in boiling water or stock在沸水（或汤汁）中煮, 烹煮：
boil the potatoes until well done
把土豆放在水中煮到熟透为止
as adj. boiled two boiled eggs.两个煮熟的鸡蛋。
- no obj.(of food) be cooked in boiling water（食物）在沸水中煮：
make the sauce while the lobsters are boiling.
一边煮龙虾一边调沙司。
- wash or sterilize (clothes) in water of a very high temperature煮洗（衣服）, 用煮洗的方法给（衣服）消毒。
- historical execute (someone) by subjecting them to the heat of boiling liquid〈史〉对…施以鼎镬之刑, 对…施以烹刑。
- no obj.(of the sea or clouds) be turbulent and stormy（海, 云）翻腾, 汹涌：
a huge cliff with the black sea boiling below.
巨大的悬崖下面深色的海水奔腾激荡。
- (of a person or strong emotion) be stirred up or inflamed（人）激动, 发火; （强烈的情感）发作, 爆发：
he was boiling with rage.
他勃然大怒。
- the temperature at which a liquid bubbles and turns to vapour沸点, 沸腾：
bring to the boil and simmer for 30 minutes
烧开以后再炖30分钟
she waited for the water to come to the boil.
她等着水开。
- an act or process of heating a liquid to such a temperature煮沸, 沸腾：
the kettle's on the boil.
壶水烧开了。
- figurative a state of vigorous activity or excitement〈喻〉活跃, 激昂, 兴奋：
he has gone off the boil since opening the campaign.
自开始竞选以来, 他一直萎靡不振。
- Fishing a sudden rise of a fish at a fly【渔】突然浮上来食鱼饵。
keep the pot boiling
- maintain the momentum or interest value of something保持活力; 保持干劲; 保持兴趣：
a home win over Sheffield kept the pot boiling.
主场战胜谢菲尔德联队使得干劲愈发高涨。
boil down to
- amount to or be in essence a matter of结果是, 意味着; 归结为：
everything boiled down to cash in the end.
任何事情到头来都意味着钱。
boil something down
- reduce the volume of a liquid by boiling熬浓, 煮浓：
they boil down the syrup until it is very thick.
他们把糖浆熬得非常浓。
boil over
- (of a liquid) flow over the sides of the container in boiling（液体）煮沸后溢出, 沸溢, 煮潽。
- figurative (of a situation or strong emotion) become so excited or tense as to get out of control〈喻〉（形势, 强烈情感）爆发; 失去控制：
one woman's anger boiled over.
其中一个女人大发雷霆。