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blub·ber¹

(blŭbər)

v. blub·bered, blub·ber·ing, blub·bers

v.intr.

To sob noisily. See Synonyms at cry.

v.tr.

1. To utter while crying and sobbing.

2. To make wet and swollen by weeping.

A loud sobbing.

[Middle English bluberen, to bubble, from bluber, foam.]

blubber·ing·ly adv.

blub·ber²

(blŭbər)

1. The thick layer of fat between the skin and the muscle layers of whales and other marine mammals, from which an oil is obtained.

2. Excessive body fat.

3. Any of various large jellyfishes.

adj.

Swollen and protruding: blubber cheeks.

[Middle English bluber, foam.]

blubber·y adj.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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