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

Hand gels and wipes are not effective substitutes.

From BBC

Many common whitening products rely on peroxide-based bleaching found in strips, gels, and mouth rinses.

From Science Daily

Not to all agree with each other,” she explains, “but talk to each other. Find a way to gel, or at least smooth around.”

From Los Angeles Times

Freaking Mari with her bouncy curls and “magic” gel.

From Literature

Flint often gelled his hair into the shape of two devil horns, of which a silhouette is etched into the backrest of the bench.

From BBC

Related Words

• clot
• condense
• congeal
• curdle
• swell