bubble

n. [ Cf. D. bobbel, Dan. boble, Sw. bubbla. Cf. Blob, n. ] 1. A thin film of liquid inflated with air or gas; as, a soap bubble; bubbles on the surface of a river. [ 1913 Webster ]

Beads of sweat have stood upon thy brow,
Like bubbles in a late disturbed stream. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A small quantity of air or gas within a liquid body; as, bubbles rising in champagne or aërated waters. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A globule of air, or globular vacuum, in a transparent solid; as, bubbles in window glass, or in a lens. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A small, hollow, floating bead or globe, formerly used for testing the strength of spirits. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. The globule of air in the spirit tube of a level. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Anything that wants firmness or solidity; that which is more specious than real; a false show; a cheat or fraud; a delusive scheme; an empty project; a dishonest speculation; as, the South Sea bubble. [ 1913 Webster ]

Then a soldier . . .
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. A person deceived by an empty project; a gull. [ Obs. ] “Ganny's a cheat, and I'm a bubble.” Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Bubbled p. pr. & vb. n. Bubbling ] [ Cf. D. bobbelen, Dan. boble. See Bubble, n. ] 1. To rise in bubbles, as liquids when boiling or agitated; to contain bubbles. [ 1913 Webster ]

The milk that bubbled in the pail. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To run with a gurgling noise, as if forming bubbles; as, a bubbling stream. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To sing with a gurgling or warbling sound. [ 1913 Webster ]

At mine ear
Bubbled the nightingale and heeded not. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To cheat; to deceive. [ 1913 Webster ]

She has bubbled him out of his youth. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

The great Locke, who was seldom outwitted by false sounds, was nevertheless bubbled here. Sterne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who cheats. [ 1913 Webster ]

All the Jews, jobbers, bubblers, subscribers, projectors, etc. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) A fish of the Ohio river; -- so called from the noise it makes. [ 1913 Webster ]