gel1

 
Pronunciation: /dʒɛl/

noun

  • 1 [mass noun] a jelly-like substance, especially one used in cosmetic or medicinal products: hair gel
  • Chemistry a semi-solid colloidal suspension of a solid dispersed in a liquid.
  • 2 Biochemistry a semi-rigid slab or cylinder of an organic polymer used as a medium for the separation of macromolecules.

verb (gels, gelling, gelled)

  • 1 [no object] Chemistry form into a gel: the mixture gelled at 7 degrees Celsius
  • 2 [with object] apply gel to (the hair): they’d gelled their hair (as adjective gelled) short gelled hair

Origin:

late 19th century: abbreviation of gelatin