Phrase guide

boil up

noun · verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A traditionally Māori soup/stew made with potatoes, pork and other ingredients.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: New-Zealand

Topics: cooking, food, lifestyle

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To cook or prepare by boiling.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • Can you boil up the vegetables while I baste the meat?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To become more excited, intense or exciting.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To boil clothes to clean or sanitize them.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, dated, slang, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Māori: kōhua kai — A traditional soup/stew
  • Azerbaijani: bişirmək — to cook or prepare by boiling
  • Azerbaijani: qaynatmaq — to cook or prepare by boiling
  • French: bouillir — to cook or prepare by boiling
  • Russian: вари́ть (varítʹ) — to cook or prepare by boiling
  • Russian: свари́ть (svarítʹ) — to cook or prepare by boiling
  • Russian: кипяти́ть (kipjatítʹ) — to cook or prepare by boiling
  • Russian: вскипяти́ть (vskipjatítʹ) — to cook or prepare by boiling
  • Swedish: koka upp — to cook or prepare by boiling
  • Azerbaijani: əsrimək — to become more excited, intense or exciting
  • Azerbaijani: qızışmaq — to become more excited, intense or exciting
  • Azerbaijani: qızmaq — to become more excited, intense or exciting
  • Azerbaijani: coşmaq — to become more excited, intense or exciting
  • Azerbaijani: azğınlaşmaq — to become more excited, intense or exciting
  • French: s'énerver — to become more excited, intense or exciting
  • Russian: кипе́ть (kipétʹ) — to become more excited, intense or exciting
  • Russian: вскипе́ть (vskipétʹ) — to become more excited, intense or exciting