Definition of "bubble"

Then a soldier […] / Seeking the bubble reputation / Even in the cannon's mouth

c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act II, scene vii]

Thanks to the proliferation of semiconductor chips and cell phones—the number of U.S. cell phones grew from essentially zero in 1983 to nearly two hundred million by the end of 2004, and as of 2003 over one billion cell phones were in use worldwide, so by the time the high-tech bubble approached its bursting point in 2000 and 2001, coltan had become an extremely hot commodity.

2007, Elizabeth Grossman, High Tech Trash, Island Press, page 46

Thomas, so often West Brom's most positive attacker down their left side and up against Salgado, twice almost burst the bubble of excitement around the ground but he had two efforts superbly saved by Robinson.

2011 January 23, Alistair Magowan, “Blackburn 2 - 0 West Brom”, in BBC‎

He’s wrapped up snugly in a cozy bubble of self-regard, talking for his own sake more than anyone else’s.

2012 June 3, Nathan Rabin, “TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “Mr. Plow” (season 4, episode 9; originally aired 11/19/1992)”, in The A.V. Club‎

Citizens of all political persuasions (not to mention members of the Trump administration) can increasingly live in their own news media bubbles, consuming only views similar to their own.

2017 March 21, Michiko Kakutani, “‘The Death of Expertise’ Explores How Ignorance Became a Virtue”, in The New York Times‎

Inside the right-wing Facebook bubble, President Trump’s response to Covid-19 has been strong and effective, Joe Biden is barely capable of forming sentences, and Black Lives Matter is a dangerous group of violent looters.

2020 August 27, Kevin Roose, “What if Facebook Is the Real ‘Silent Majority’?”, in New York Times‎

"We know we're in a bubble," said one Villager interviewed for the film. "But it's a nice bubble".

2022 February 6, Benedict Brook, “Dark side of paradise: 'Sinister' cracks show in perfect suburb”, in NZ Herald‎

Later that day, the unit was staffed with only one officer, who was required to stay in the bubble.

1998, District of Columbia Appropriations for 1998: Hearings

Gany's a cheat, and I'm a bubble.

1709, Matthew Prior, Cupid and Ganymede

For no woman, sure, will plead the passion of love for an excuse. This would be to own herself the mere tool and bubble of the man.

1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society, published 1979, page 15

"There was an empty room and this is my house," Mark Philip told the Herald. "Where am I supposed to go? Whose bubble am I supposed to infect?"

2020 April 7, “Covid 19 coronavirus: Police called after Mt Eden landlord tries to move into flat during lockdown”, in New Zealand Herald

A bare lamp (bulb, globe, 'bubble') radiates light in all directions.

2013, Gerald Millerson, Lighting for TV and Film, page 296

The blood bubbled up to her brain, and made such a sound there, as of boiling waters, that she did not hear the words which Mr. Bradshaw first spoke […]

1853, Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell, Ruth

With some technical improvement, I could see how the process of imitating my work would soon become fast and streamlined, and the many dark potentials bubbled to the forefront of my mind.

2022 December 31, Sarah Andersen, “The Alt-Right Manipulated My Comic. Then A.I. Claimed It.”, in The New York Times‎

The target of this event is the most deeply nested common ancestor of all changes that occurred in the document, and it bubbles up the document tree […]

2002, David Flanagan, JavaScript: the definitive guide

No, no, friend, I shall never be bubbled out of my religion in hopes only of keeping my place under another government […]

1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society, published 1973, page 443

He tells me with great passion that she has bubbled him out of his youth; that she drilled him on to five and fifty [years old], and that he verily believes she will drop him in his old age, if she can find her account in another.

1711 June 12, Joseph Addison, The Spectator, number 89; republished in The Works of Joseph Addison, volume 1, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1842, page 142

I need not tell your Worships, that this was done with so much cunning and artifice, —that the great Locke, who was seldom outwitted by false sounds, was nevertheless bubbled here.

1759, Laurence Sterne, Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

Groggily her mind went back through the long hours to 10 P.M. She had fed Junior, bubbled him, diped him—according to plan.

1942, McCall’s, volume 69, page 94

I walked him, pushed him, pulled him, and “bubbled” him, drawing the line at changing him, and found that the ability to bring actual happiness to another being’s face, even such a small red one, simply by walking into the room, made me feel ten feet tall.

1957, Conrad Nicholson Hilton, Be My Guest, page 52

Mother sat up, picked up baby, put him on shoulder, bubbled him.

1958, David Mordecai Levy, Behavioral analysis: analysis of clinical observations of behavior as applied to mother-newborn relationships, page 358

It seemed to Adam that he felt the blood in his toes creeping up his legs and body until it reached his brain where, finding it could go no farther, it bubbled him into dumbness: it added to his confusion to know that he looked as if some such accident had befallen his circulation.

1922, Conal O’Riordan, In London: The Story of Adam and Marriage, page 164

A few minutes more would give him his first glimpse of the village wherein, many months before, he had left his wife and little ones. Anticipation bubbled him into song, and he broke forth into—A la claire fontaine M’en allant promener.

1973, Henry Cecil Walsh, Bonhomme: French-Canadian Stories and Sketches, page 9

The frothing sensation bubbled him all over, a boiling without heat or any sound or light.

2011, Tim O’Brien, Northern Lights, page 201

Mrs. Hinds beamed at Ipsie through pince-nez and bubbled her joy through thin lips, but Ipsie made no reply.

1924, Stella Benson, Pipers and a Dancer, page 14

Delighted with this promenade, little Edith bubbled her joy without cessation.

1934, Inez Haynes Gillmore, Strange Harvest, page 417

“She’s a little girl like me,” Beth bubbled. “Her name is Buttons, ’cause she has a small nose. And she has a twin, too, just like me. Only my twin’s name is Carly.”

1999, Mollie Molay, Daddy by Christmas, page 106

Rachel bubbled her thanks and brushed past the Reverend, me in tow.

2008, Douglas Allen Rhodes, Sex and Murder, page 55

But Ms. Loomat, far from a negative reaction, bubbled her joy at the news even congratulating Ms Lee on her acquisition.

2012, Andre Paul Goddard, The Blue Basin, page 414

She bubbled her lips at Junior and wrinkled her eyes.

1929, The Saturday Evening Post, volume 201, page 50

She hasn’t bubbled her lips yet, has she?

1978, Poul Anderson, The Night Face and Other Stories, page 159

I didn’t see much connection between the Bunnies and Michelle—something bubbled her blouses, and I’d heard her whisper with my sister about training bras, but her body was angular, skinny.

2005, Tracy Daugherty, Late in the Standoff: Stories and a Novella, page 17

Her mouth hung slightly open and water droplets bubbled her forehead, like oversized sweat.

1994, Jonathan Kellerman, Bad Love, page 57

Tears of thanksgiving bubbled her eyes and blurred her vision.

2005, Syne Mitchell, End in Fire, page 187

Oily beads of sweat bubbled his forehead.

2007, Jason Blacker, Black Dog Bleeding, page 8

Cross out answers as you eliminate them, and practice bubbling your answers on the sheet provided at the very end of the book.

2011, Allison Amend, Adam Robinson, Cracking the SAT.: Literature Subject Test, page 126

They bubbled her answers on Scantron tests, changed her sanitary napkins, helped her get in and out of the bathroom with a minimum of fuss.

2014, Cammie McGovern, Say What You Will

You don’t want to go back and forth between the test booklet and your answer sheet to bubble your answers.

2019, Crash Course for the ACT, 6th Edition: Your Last-Minute Guide to Scoring High, page 15