gel

[ jel ]

noun

1. Physical Chemistry. a semirigid colloidal dispersion of a solid with a liquid or gas, as jelly, glue, etc.
2. Theater. gelatin ( def 5 ).
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, gel·ling.

1. to form or become a gel.
2. jell ( def 2 ).

gel

/ 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 Words From

• de·gel verb (used with object) degelled degelling
• non·gelling adjective
• re·gel verb (used without object) regelled regelling

Word History and Origins

Origin of gel¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; shortening of gelatin

Word History and Origins

Origin of gel¹

C19: by shortening from gelatine

Example Sentences

"I know what's important for me in this competition, that the girls find a way to gel and get on," said Keothavong.

From BBC

This facilitates the reaction of the intermediates with each other to make a polyester, which gels into solid particles that can easily be separated out.

From Science Daily

But Hegseth, with his heavily gelled hair and impressive bone structure, looks a lot like a movie star of Trump's 1950s childhood.

From Salon

Last year, Beverly Hills passed an ordinance banning people under 21 years old from having Silly String — or shaving cream or hair removal gel — in public on Halloween.

From Los Angeles Times

Spencer Rattler isn’t likely to roll into Los Angeles and beat the Chargers, who are slowly starting to gel as a team under Jim Harbaugh.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• clot
• condense
• congeal
• curdle
• swell