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gelatin

American  
[jel-uh-tn] / ˈdʒɛl ə tn /
Or gelatine

noun

  1. a nearly transparent, faintly yellow, odorless, and almost tasteless glutinous substance obtained by boiling in water the ligaments, bones, skin, etc., of animals, and forming the basis of jellies, glues, and the like.

  2. any of various similar substances, as vegetable gelatin.

  3. a preparation or product in which such an animal or vegetable substance is the essential constituent.

  4. an edible jelly made of this substance.

  5. Also called gelatin slide.  Theater. a thin sheet made of translucent gelatin colored with an aniline dye, placed over stage lights, and used as a color medium in obtaining lighting effects.

gelatin Scientific  
/ jĕl′ə-tn /

  1. An odorless, colorless protein substance obtained by boiling a mixture of water and the skin, bones, and tendons of animals. The preparation forms a gel when allowed to cool. It is used in foods, drugs, glue, and film.

Etymology

Origin of gelatin

1790–1800; < French gélatine < Medieval Latin gelātina, equivalent to Latin gelāt ( us ) frozen, thickened, past participle of gelāre ( gel- freeze + -ātus -ate 1 ) + -ina -in 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"His moody, meticulously composed silver gelatin portraits shaped how audiences saw stars like Raj Kapoor, Nargis, Dev Anand, Meena Kumari and Dilip Kumar," the curatorial note says.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

"The expectation is zero," said Alejandra Zarazua, who fears she will be evicted from her normal spot near the Azteca Stadium where she sells Mexican gelatin desserts.

From Barron's • Nov. 5, 2025

The wobble, the fluff, the quiet alchemy of gelatin are all designed to evoke the version he remembers from his childhood table, just made sleeker.

From Salon • Apr. 27, 2025

Hall, then 24, had originally set out to create the world’s most comfortable chair, filling a plastic sack with gelatin and then cornstarch with disappointing results.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 23, 2024

“It’s hard to love somebody when they don’t love you back,” she says, her voice getting all gooey like the marshmallows she doesn’t eat because they’re made with gelatin and she’s that kind of vegetarian.

From "The Misfits" by James Howe

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.