congeal

[ kuhn-jeel ]

verb (used with or without object)

1. to change from a soft or fluid state to a rigid or solid state, as by cooling or freezing:

   The fat congealed on the top of the soup.

   Synonyms: solidify, jell, set, harden

2. to curdle; coagulate, as a fluid.
3. to make or become fixed, as ideas, sentiments, or principles:

   Some philosophic systems lost their vitality and congealed.

congeal

/ kənˈdʒiːl /

verb

1. to change or cause to change from a soft or fluid state to a firm or solid state
2. to form or cause to form into a coagulated mass; curdle; jell
3. intr (of ideas) to take shape or become fixed in form

Derived Forms

• conˈgealment, noun
• conˈgealer, noun
• conˈgealable, adjective

Other Words From

• con·geala·ble adjective
• con·geala·bili·ty con·geala·ble·ness noun
• con·gealed·ness noun
• con·gealer noun
• con·gealment noun
• half-con·gealed adjective
• noncon·gealing adjective noun
• uncon·geal verb (used without object)
• uncon·geala·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of congeal¹

1350–1400; Middle English congelen (< Middle French congeler ) < Latin congelāre, equivalent to con- con- + gelāre to freeze; gelid

Word History and Origins

Origin of congeal¹

C14: from Old French congeler, from Latin congelāre, from com- together + gelāre to freeze

Example Sentences

Other sounds, be it his wife popping chewing gum or a neighbour's dog barking, and some smells, such as congealed fat or grease, and sights such as fluorescent lights, have always made him very uncomfortable.

From BBC

“They kind of take the randomness and they congeal it back into the volume. That’s the way of going from randomness to content. And that’s how you can make random videos.”

From Seattle Times

This can create a fascinating doubling in the sense that there’s the movie in front of you and its layered references, all of which can flow together when they don’t congeal, which alas happens here.

From New York Times

The greens are best served at room temperature so the dressing doesn’t congeal on contact.

From Washington Times

Jonathan Zaback wrote on a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that included an image of a congealed, hard-to-identify entree.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• curdle
• thicken