Gel

[jel] /dʒɛl/

noun
1.
Physical Chemistry. a semirigid colloidal dispersion of a solid with a liquid or gas, as jelly, glue, etc.
2.
Theater. (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, gelling.
4.
to form or become a gel.
5.
(def 2).
/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.
(theatre, informal) See gelatine (sense 4)
verb gels, gelling, gelled
4.
to become or cause to become a gel
5.
a variant spelling of jell
n.

1899, as a chemical term, short for gelatin and perhaps influenced by jell. The invention of this word is credited to Scottish chemist Thomas Graham (1805-1869). Hair-styling sense is from 1958. The verb meaning “to become a gel” is attested by 1902; figurative sense is from 1958. Related: Gelled; gelling.

gel (jěl)
n.
A colloid in which the disperse phase combines with the dispersion medium to produce a semisolid material. v. gelled, gel·ling, gels

noun

verb

Related Terms

cook with gas, run out of gas, step on it
gelatin
Georgia-lari (currency)