gel

[jel]

noun

1. Physical Chemistry.,  a semirigid colloidal dispersion of a solid with a liquid or gas, as jelly, glue, etc.

2. Theater.,  gelatin.

3. Biochemistry.,  a semirigid polymer, as agarose, starch, cellulose acetate, or polyacrylamide, cast into slabs or cylinders for the electrophoretic separation of proteins and nucleic acids.

verb (used without object)

gelled, gelling 

1. to form or become a gel.

2. jell.

gel

/ dʒɛl /

noun

1. a semirigid jelly-like colloid in which a liquid is dispersed in a solid

   nondrip paint is a gel

2. See hair gel

3. informal,  theatre See gelatine

verb

1. to become or cause to become a gel

2. a variant spelling of jell

Other Word Forms

• degel verb (used with object)
• nongelling adjective
• regel verb (used without object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of gel¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; shortening of gelatin

Word History and Origins

Origin of gel¹

C19: by shortening from _gelatine

Example Sentences

They get excited over a bottle of shampoo or a bottle of nice shower gel.

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She takes one of the gel containers lying on the floor and uses it to re-coil a few of the twists on my head.

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It typically consists of taking estradiol—delivered through pills, patches, gels and sprays—often given in combination with oral progesterone to reduce the risk of uterine cancer.

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The researchers envision the treatment being available in two forms: a daily-use toothpaste or a professional gel applied by dentists, similar to nail varnish.

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Lab work revealed that, upon exposure to a flame, one of the gels he was working on bubbled up to form a porous aerogel structure within it that is highly protective against fire.

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Related Words

• clot 
• condense 
• congeal 
• curdle 
• swell