Link Centre Dictionary

gel

UK/ɡɛl/ US/d͡ʒɛɫ/ fairly common slang uk
noun (2) verb (2)

noun

1.

a colloid in a more solid form than a sol

Synonyms
2.

a thin translucent membrane used over stage lights for color effects

Synonyms

verb

1.

become a gel

  • “The solid, when heated, gelled”
2.

apply a styling gel to

  • “she mousses her hair”
Synonyms

Origin

Coined by Thomas Graham in the mid 19th century as a clipping of gelatin, from French gélatine, from Italian gelatina, diminutive form of gelata (“iced”), from Latin gelata, past participle of gelo (“to freeze”), from gelu (“frost”), from Proto-Indo-European *gel- (“cold”). For the meaning development compare with Russian сту́день (stúdenʹ, “aspic, jelly, gel”) related to студёный (studjónyj, “cold”).

Phrases

  • energy gel
  • gel bracelet
  • gel electrophoresis
  • gel pen
  • hair gel
  • hand gel
  • light gel
  • pepper gel

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.