Quranic root
غلي
gh · l · y
The securely attested semantic orientation is intense boiling or seething, with extensions to effervescence, fermentation, and figurative heat or anger.
The lexical evidence proceeds from a pot or liquid boiling to related states of effervescence and fermentation, and to figurative descriptions of vehement anger and bloodshed.
- Lane · entry 29818
- 2
- Quran-attested forms
- 2
- Quran senses
- 2
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
غَلَا
ghalā
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
To boil; to seethe.
A Form I verb describing something becoming boiling or intensely agitated; the Quranic occurrence is an imperfect form.
- Lane · entry 29818
- Mufradāt · row 1061
Selected Quran examples
Quran 44:45word 2
“it will boil”
غَلْيٌ
ghalyun
- Part of speech
- Verbal noun
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
Boiling; seething.
The verbal noun denotes the process or state of boiling and is used in the Quran in a comparison with the boiling of scalding water.
- Lane · entry 29818
- Mufradāt · row 1061
Selected Quran examples
Quran 44:46word 1
“Like boiling”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
View all 2 occurrencesBroader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 9 Classical meanings
غَلَا
Of liquor, to effervesce, ferment, or become agitated.
A Classical use related to the boiling or bubbling of a liquid.
- Lane · entry 29818
غَلَا
In the idiom يَغْلِي دَمُهُ, to be regarded as liable to have one's blood shed.
An idiomatic, figurative expression said of one who has exposed himself to slaughter.
- Lane · entry 29818
غَلِيَ
To become vehemently angry.
A separately noted dialectal Form I usage.
- Lane · entry 29818
أَغْلَى
To make a pot, oil, or another liquid boil.
Form IV causative usage; the object is made to boil rather than boiling by itself.
- Lane · entry 29820
غَلَّى
To perfume or rub with غالية; to apply the perfume as a smeared dressing.
Form II usage involving the application of the compound perfume غالية.
- Lane · entry 29819
تَغْلِيَةٌ
To salute from afar or make a sign.
A distinct meaning recorded for the verbal noun تغلية.
- Lane · entry 29819
تَغَلَّى
To perfume oneself or rub oneself with غالية.
Form V reflexive usage corresponding to the application of the perfume غالية.
- Lane · entry 29821
غَلَّايَةٌ
A copper or brass vessel used for heating water.
A utensil term; it denotes the heating vessel, not the process of boiling itself.
- Lane · entry 29825
غَالِيَةٌ
A compound perfume, traditionally made by blending musk with other aromatic substances.
The supplied lexical evidence reports differing explanations of its etymology, including an association with compounding or boiling; the perfume meaning itself is directly attested.
- Lane · entry 29826
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The shared Mufradat record combines material assigned to غلي with material assigned to the separate root غلو; only its boiling discussion and its Quranic boiling interpretation are used here, not its meanings involving exceeding a limit, high prices, or an arrow.
The anger meaning غَلِيَ is recorded as an unusual dialectal Form I usage and is kept distinct from the boiling verb.
The etymology of غَالِيَةٌ is reported variably in the supplied evidence, although its perfume meaning is directly attested.
Unassigned or ambiguous evidence
mufradat:row:1061 is a shared/composite entry for غلي and غلو; its non-boiling غلو branches cannot be assigned to this root.
The cross-reference context entry lane:entry:29802 belongs directly to the separate root غلو, so its meaning of moving or speeding quickly is not assigned to غلي.