From alteration of dialectal simper, from Middle English simperen (“to simmer”), of possibly imitative origin. First attested in the intransitive sense. The noun is from the verb. First attested in the late 15ᵗʰ century.
Meanings
The state or process of simmering.
The kettle was kept on the simmer.
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Translations (6)
el σιγοβράσιμο (process of simmering) · fi hauduttaminen (process of simmering) · pt aferventamento (process of simmering) · bg къкрене (process of simmering) · es calentamiento (process of simmering) · sv sjudning (process of simmering)
From alteration of dialectal simper, from Middle English simperen (“to simmer”), of possibly imitative origin. First attested in the intransitive sense. The noun is from the verb. First attested in the late 15ᵗʰ century.
Meanings
(intransitive) To cook or undergo heating slowly at or below the boiling point.
The locomotive was the now inevitable American 2-8-0, No. 2623. There she stood, effectively blocking the level crossing, simmering gently, massively inert. It was almost dark, and one's final sight was of her high, firelit cab, the enginemen nonchalantly leaning out, waiting for the right-away, while impatient road convoys piled up on both sides of the crossing. 1945 January and February, “Notes and News: American Locomotives in France”, in Railway Magazine, page 46:
That way, the heat can circulate under the meat and prevent it from simmering in its juices. 2004, Susan Westmoreland, The Good Housekeeping Cookbook, Hearst Books, →ISBN, page 89:
The soup simmered on the stove.
(transitive) To cause to cook or to cause to undergo heating slowly at or below the boiling point.
There are other easy ways you can bake and simmer and sauté wild game without qualifying as a gourmet cook. 1981, Phyllis Hobson, Easy Game Cookery, Storey Publishing, →ISBN, page 2:
Simmer the soup for five minutes, then serve.
(figuratively, intransitive) To be on the point of breaking out into anger; to be agitated.
Maybe that really did happen, and Robin's anger at his wife had simmered for this long? 2006, Earl Ganz, The Taos Truth Game, UNM Press, →ISBN:
(figuratively, intransitive) To remain angry with someone or something past the point of exhaustion; to resign oneself to holding a grudge, especially after some failed attempts to resolve a situation.
I tried to get through to him; all that's left for me to do is simmer.
(figuratively, intransitive) To develop gradually, of an idea or plan.
The idea for The Sims was one that had been simmering in Wright's mind for quite some time, and was initially conceived as an architecture simulation. 2003, Mark H. Walker, Games That Sell!, Wordware Publishing, Inc., →ISBN, page 162:
es entibiarse ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · kea ferbe ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · eo boleti ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · ja とろ火で煮る ((transitive) to cause to cook or undergo heating slowly) · pt aferventar ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · ca bullir a foc lent ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · kea apurá ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · ru готовить, не доводя до кипения ((transitive) to cause to cook or undergo heating slowly) · ru вызрева́ть ((intransitive) to develop gradually, of an idea or plan) · mk крчка ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · fi hauduttaa ((transitive) to cause to cook or undergo heating slowly) · de sieden ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · es pocharse ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · nl stoven ((transitive) to cause to cook or undergo heating slowly) · ga suanbhruith ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · de sieden ((transitive) to cause to cook or undergo heating slowly) · de simmern ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · cmn 熬 ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · fr faire mijoter ((transitive) to cause to cook or undergo heating slowly) · gd eàrr-bhruich ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · ko 은근히 끓이다 ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · ca coure amb poc foc ((transitive) to cause to cook or undergo heating slowly) · es cocer a fuego manso ((transitive) to cause to cook or undergo heating slowly) · fi kehitellä ((intransitive) to develop gradually, of an idea or plan) · sq zi ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · kea apura ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · nrf mitonner ((transitive) to cause to cook or undergo heating slowly) · cmn 煨 ((transitive) to cause to cook or undergo heating slowly) · nrf mitonner ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · gl guisar ((transitive) to cause to cook or undergo heating slowly) · fi hautoa ((intransitive) to develop gradually, of an idea or plan) · sv sjuda ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · de schwelen ((intransitive) to be on the point of breaking out into anger; to be agitated) · es escalfarse ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · es cocerse a fuego lento ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · es cocerse a fuego manso ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · es cocer a fuego lento ((transitive) to cause to cook or undergo heating slowly) · fr bouillotter ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · el σιγοβράζω ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · nb trekke ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · fi hautua ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · ru готовить на медленном огне ((transitive) to cause to cook or undergo heating slowly) · sv sjuda ((transitive) to cause to cook or undergo heating slowly) · ru готовиться на медленном огне ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · sq nxe ((transitive) to cause to cook or undergo heating slowly) · ka გაცხელება ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · nb trekke ((transitive) to cause to cook or undergo heating slowly) · es calentarse ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · pt aferventar ((transitive) to cause to cook or undergo heating slowly) · nl sudderen ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · fr mijoter ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · ga suanbhruith ((transitive) to cause to cook or undergo heating slowly) · it sobbollire ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · az qaynamaq ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · de köcheln ((transitive) to cause to cook or undergo heating slowly) · es escalfar ((transitive) to cause to cook or undergo heating slowly) · es pochar ((transitive) to cause to cook or undergo heating slowly) · bg къкря ((transitive) to cause to cook or undergo heating slowly) · pl gotować na wolnym ogniu ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · es entibiar ((transitive) to cause to cook or undergo heating slowly) · nl sudderen ((transitive) to cause to cook or undergo heating slowly) · el σιγοβράζω ((transitive) to cause to cook or undergo heating slowly) · fi kiehua ((intransitive) to be on the point of breaking out into anger; to be agitated) · it scaldare ((transitive) to cause to cook or undergo heating slowly) · wa bouyter ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · ru томиться ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · wa cûtner ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · kea apurá ((transitive) to cause to cook or undergo heating slowly) · de köcheln ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · kea apura ((transitive) to cause to cook or undergo heating slowly) · nl stoven ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · gd eàrr-bhruich ((transitive) to cause to cook or undergo heating slowly) · kea ferbe ((transitive) to cause to cook or undergo heating slowly) · gl guisar ((intransitive) to cook or undergo heating slowly) · pl gotować na wolnym ogniu ((transitive) to cause to cook or undergo heating slowly)