gel
/dʒel/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A soft, jelly-like substance that is thicker than a liquid but not fully solid. It is often used in hair products, cosmetics, and some foods.
- She put gel in her hair before work.
- This face gel feels cool on skin.
- The dessert has a soft fruit gel on top.
verb
To become thicker and more like a gel, or to make something do that. It can also mean to work well together or start flowing smoothly, especially ideas or teamwork.
- The mixture will gel after a few minutes.
- Their plans finally began to gel.
- The team really gels during practice.
Adinary Nuance
Gel is more specific than cream, lotion, or paste. It suggests a clear or soft substance with a firm, slippery feel. As a verb, gel can mean “become thick,” but in everyday speech it often means “work well together.”
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- gel
- Spanish
- gel
- Chinese
- 凝胶
- Japanese
- ジェル
- Korean
- 젤
Etymology
Gel came into English in the 1800s from French gel, from Latin gelu, meaning “frost” or “cold.” The word later became common for soft, thick substances.
Common phrases
hair gelgel formulagel into placethe team gels
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is gel a noun or a verb?
- It is both. As a noun, it means a thick, jelly-like substance. As a verb, it means to become thick or to work smoothly together.
- What is the difference between gel and cream?
- Gel is usually clearer and lighter. Cream is softer, richer, and less firm.
- Is gel formal or informal?
- Gel is a normal everyday word. It is also common in science, beauty, and business writing.