gel

Pronunciation: /d͡ʒɛl/

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a colloid in a more solid form than a sol
  2. noun a thin translucent membrane used over stage lights for color effects
  3. verb become a gel

Etymology

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”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

colloidal gel

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
colloid
Narrower (hyponyms)
hydrogel

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