1 B2 neutral
To remove a specific substance from a mixture by boiling until it evaporates.
"Add the wine to the pan and boil off the alcohol before adding the cream."
separable
boil off
B2 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To remove or separate a substance from a liquid mixture by heating it until it evaporates.
In plain English
To get rid of part of a liquid — like alcohol or water — by boiling until it turns to steam and escapes.
What does "boil off" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 neutral
(Of a substance) To evaporate from a liquid through the process of boiling.
"The solvent boils off at a relatively low temperature, leaving the residue behind."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To boil a substance until it separates off (away) from the rest.
Actually means
To get rid of part of a liquid — like alcohol or water — by boiling until it turns to steam and escapes.
Usage tip
Common in cooking (especially removing alcohol), chemistry, and industry. The transitive form is more common: 'boil off the alcohol'. Also used in gas and petroleum industries. Less commonly intransitive.
Words that pair with "boil off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
alcohol water impurities solvent liquid vapour
How to conjugate "boil off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
boil off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
boils off
he/she/it
Past simple
boiled off
yesterday
Past participle
boiled off
have + pp
-ing form
boiling off
continuous
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