jelly

[ jel-ee ]

noun

, plural jel·lies.

1. a food preparation of a soft, elastic consistency due to the presence of gelatin, pectin, etc., especially fruit juice boiled down with sugar and used as a sweet spread for bread and toast, as a filling for cakes or doughnuts, etc.
2. any substance having the consistency of jelly.
3. Chiefly British. a fruit-flavored gelatin dessert.
4. a plastic sandal or shoe.

verb (used with or without object)

, jel·lied, jel·ly·ing.

1. to bring or come to the consistency of jelly.

adjective

1. containing or made, spread, or topped with jelly or syrup; jellied:

   jelly apples.

jelly

¹

/ ˈdʒɛlɪ /

noun

1. a slang name for gelignite

jelly

²

/ ˈdʒɛlɪ /

noun

1. a fruit-flavoured clear dessert set with gelatine US and Canadian trademarkJell-o
2. a preserve made from the juice of fruit boiled with sugar and used as jam
3. a savoury food preparation set with gelatine or with a strong gelatinous stock and having a soft elastic consistency

   calf's-foot jelly

4. anything having the consistency of jelly
5. informal.
   a coloured gelatine filter that can be fitted in front of a stage or studio light

verb

1. to jellify

Derived Forms

• ˈjelly-ˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• jelly·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of jelly¹

1350–1400; Middle English gely < Old French gelee frozen jelly < Medieval Latin gelāta frozen, equivalent to Latin gel- freeze + -āta -ate ¹; gel, cold

Word History and Origins

Origin of jelly¹

C14: from Old French gelee frost, jelly, from geler to set hard, from Latin gelāre, from gelu frost

Example Sentences

So it's like a clear jelly, and it's chicken, and you put butter and salt and pepper, and it's incredible.

From Salon

So this isn’t just about evening the piles of jelly beans anymore.

From Slate

Malone’s touring partners Jelly Roll, set to headline Stagecoach 2025, and Sierra Ferrell will not join the “Rockstar” singer for his Indio shows.

From Los Angeles Times

The prince plays the part of a nervous customer as he faces the prospect of getting a first tattoo from US singer Jelly Roll.

From BBC

Jelly Roll, who has spent time in jail, promises a small tattoo - which turns out to be a big advert for the games on Prince Harry's neck.

From BBC

Related Words

• gelatin