What is "to boil over"

Over \O"ver\, adv.

1. From one side to another; from side to side; across; crosswise; as, a board, or a tree, a foot over, i. e., a foot in diameter.

2. From one person or place to another regarded as on the opposite side of a space or barrier; -- used with verbs of motion; as, to sail over to England; to hand over the money; to go over to the enemy. ``We will pass over to Gibeah.''
   --Judges xix. 12. Also, with verbs of being: At, or on, the opposite side; as, the boat is over.

3. From beginning to end; throughout the course, extent, or expanse of anything; as, to look over accounts, or a stock of goods; a dress covered over with jewels.

4. From inside to outside, above or across the brim.

   Good measure, pressed down . . . and running over.
   --Luke vi. 38.

5. Beyond a limit; hence, in excessive degree or quantity; superfluously; with repetition; as, to do the whole work over. ``So over violent.''
   --Dryden.

   He that gathered much had nothing over.
   --Ex. xvi. 18.

6. In a manner to bring the under side to or towards the top; as, to turn (one's self) over; to roll a stone over; to turn over the leaves; to tip over a cart.

7. Completed; at an end; beyond the limit of continuance; finished; as, when will the play be over?. ``Their distress was over.'' --Macaulay. ``The feast was over.'' --Sir W. Scott. Note: Over, out, off, and similar adverbs, are often used in the predicate with the sense and force of adjectives, agreeing in this respect with the adverbs of place, here, there, everywhere, nowhere; as, the games were over; the play is over; the master was out; his hat is off. Note: Over is much used in composition, with the same significations that it has as a separate word; as in overcast, overflow, to cast or flow so as to spread over or cover; overhang, to hang above; overturn, to turn so as to bring the underside towards the top; overact, overreach, to act or reach beyond, implying excess or superiority. All over.

   1. Over the whole; upon all parts; completely; as, he is spatterd with mud all over.

   2. Wholly over; at an end; as, it is all over with him.

      Over again, once more; with repetition; afresh; anew.
      --Dryden.

      Over against, opposite; in front.
      --Addison.

      Over and above, in a manner, or degree, beyond what is supposed, defined, or usual; besides; in addition; as, not over and above well. ``He . . . gained, over and above, the good will of all people.''
      --L' Estrange.

      Over and over, repeatedly; again and again.

      To boil over. See under Boil, v. i.

      To come it over, To do over, To give over, etc. See under Come, Do, Give, etc.

      To throw over, to abandon; to betray. Cf. To throw overboard, under Overboard.

Boil \Boil\ (boil), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Boiled (boild); p. pr. & vb. n. Boiling.] [OE. boilen, OF. boilir, builir, F. bouillir, fr. L. bullire to be in a bubbling motion, from bulla bubble; akin to Gr. ?, Lith. bumbuls. Cf. Bull an edict, Budge, v., and Ebullition.]

1. To be agitated, or tumultuously moved, as a liquid by the generation and rising of bubbles of steam (or vapor), or of currents produced by heating it to the boiling point; to be in a state of ebullition; as, the water boils.

2. To be agitated like boiling water, by any other cause than heat; to bubble; to effervesce; as, the boiling waves.

   He maketh the deep to boil like a pot.
   --Job xii. 31.

3. To pass from a liquid to an a["e]riform state or vapor when heated; as, the water boils away.

4. To be moved or excited with passion; to be hot or fervid; as, his blood boils with anger.

   Then boiled my breast with flame and burning wrath.
   --Surrey.

5. To be in boiling water, as in cooking; as, the potatoes are boiling.

   To boil away, to vaporize; to evaporate or be evaporated by the action of heat.

   To boil over, to run over the top of a vessel, as liquid when thrown into violent agitation by heat or other cause of effervescence; to be excited with ardor or passion so as to lose self-control.