gelatin

or gel·a·tine

[ jel-uh-tn ]

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

/ 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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of gelatin¹

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

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

The patches are made of sensors, bacterial cells, and a gel made from starch and gelatin.

From Science Daily

The research scientist, who heads the Central Scientific Facility Medical Systems at MPI-IS, was surprised when she put the 3 to 5 nanometer particles into tiny drug-delivery capsules made of gelatin.

From Science Daily

There things stood until 2018, when an appraisal of the estate after the death of both her parents turned up an overlooked bag that contained 24 rolled-up diazotypes and four gelatin silver prints.

From New York Times

Among the most important multicellular innovations is the origin of robust bodies: over 3,000 generations, these 'snowflake yeast' started out weaker than gelatin but evolved to be as strong and tough as wood.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• jelly
• marmalade