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Added 8 October 2026

gel

/d͡ʒɛl/ noun

Latin root: gelata Coined: mid 19th century, by Thomas Graham Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about gel at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A colloid in a more solid form than a sol.
Jellylike substance used in hair styling.
A thin translucent membrane used over stage lights for color effects.

verb

Become a gel.
The solid, when heated, gelled
Apply a styling gel to.
she mousses her hair

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”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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