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.

---

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

---

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

However, only one group was given the testosterone gel as part of their treatment.

From Science Daily • May 7, 2026

After 40 minutes of the technician repeatedly dragging a warm and gooey wand across my chest, I had 95 images—and enough gel on my skin to moisturize a lizard for a year.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026

The relationship never seemed to gel, Zanardi rarely showed the performance the team expected of him, and Williams released him at the end of the year.

From BBC • May 2, 2026

In addition to toothpaste, researchers and the PerioTrap team have developed a gel used after professional dental cleanings to block harmful bacteria, support a healthy microbiome, and maintain gum health.

From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026

I also picked up some hair gel and scrunchies, and a new pair of sneakers—gold ones!

From "Blended" by Sharon M. Draper

Related Words

• clot
• condense
• congeal
• curdle
• swell