burble

[ bur-buhl ]

verb (used without object)

, bur·bled, bur·bling.

1. to make a bubbling sound; bubble.
2. to speak in an excited manner; babble.

noun

1. a bubbling or gentle flow.
2. an excited flow of speech.
3. Aeronautics. the breakdown of smooth airflow around a wing at a high angle of attack.

burble

/ ˈbɜːbəl /

verb

1. to make or utter with a bubbling sound; gurgle
2. intr; often foll by away or on to talk quickly and excitedly
3. intr (of the airflow around a body) to become turbulent

noun

1. a bubbling or gurgling sound
2. a flow of excited speech
3. turbulence in the airflow around a body

Derived Forms

• ˈburbler, noun

Other Words From

• burbler noun
• burbly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of burble¹

1275–1325; Middle English; perhaps variant of bubble

Word History and Origins

Origin of burble¹

C14: probably of imitative origin; compare Spanish borbollar to bubble, gush, Italian borbugliare

Example Sentences

“There we go!” someone called out as he cleared the burbling waterway.

From Los Angeles Times

These water gardens were lovely and relatively simple, but I still wanted the soothing sound of burbling water.

From Los Angeles Times

And notwithstanding the constant shrieks about America’s nativism and xenophobia, the melting pot continues to burble along.

From Los Angeles Times

Along the way, I spotted flashy displays of yellow balsamroot and purple lupine as my family meandered alongside burbling Cowiche Creek.

From Seattle Times

I heard clanging metal drums and the burble of a ram’s horn.

From Literature

Related Words

• babble