gelatin
Americannoun
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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.
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any of various similar substances, as vegetable gelatin.
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a preparation or product in which such an animal or vegetable substance is the essential constituent.
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an edible jelly made of this substance.
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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.
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
She makes a living selling gelatin in the streets of Los Angeles, but she has been terrified to leave her home since the raids first started over the summer.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 25, 2025
"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
Among them, gelatin salads are having a particular moment.
From Salon • Apr. 27, 2025
It was so cool here, black and light-yellow and brown, and the gelatin was so cool.
From "The Woman Warrior" by Maxine Hong Kingston
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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.