gel

American  

[jel] / dʒɛl /

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.

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verb (used without object)

gelled, gelling

1. to form or become a gel.

2. jell.

gel British  

/ 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

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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)

Etymology

Origin of gel

First recorded in 1895–1900; shortening of gelatin

Example Sentences

The transparent holders allowed me to see the ink disappear, which made me oddly eager to keep using the gel pens.

From The Wall Street Journal

The new material is a silicone-based gel with a complex internal structure.

From Science Daily

Many people see only his “stark white shirt, blue suit and, yeah, the gelled hair, and they think ‘Oh, I know this guy,’” he said in the video.

From Los Angeles Times

This type of car gelled much more naturally with Hamilton's driving style, which is to brake late and use the change in aerodynamic pressure to help rotate the car into the corner.

From BBC

Extra hand gel dispensers will also be provided, the trust said.

From BBC

Related Words

• clot
• condense
• congeal
• curdle
• swell