gel
UK[dʒel]US[dʒel]
n
A thick, wet substance that is similar to jelly, often used in cosmetics, medicines, or food.
v
To become firmer and more solid, like a gel.
v
(of people or ideas) To work well together; to form a successful combination.
Etymology
The word 'gel' is a modern, clipped form of 'gelatin', tracing its lineage back to the Latin verb 'gelare', meaning 'to freeze' or 'to congeal'. This Latin root itself stems from the Proto-Indo-European base gel-, meaning 'cold' or 'to freeze', which also gives us words like 'cold', 'glacier', and 'jelly'. The semantic journey from 'freezing' to a semi-solid, jelly-like state is a logical extension, as both involve a transition from liquid to solid. In the 20th century, 'gel' emerged as a standalone term, first as a noun for the colloidal substance, and later as a verb describing both physical solidification and successful social or intellectual cohesion.
Analysis
The word 'gel' is a simplex form. It is a clipped form of the word 'gelatin', which itself originates from the French 'gélatine', derived from the Italian 'gelatina', from 'gelata' meaning 'jelly', and ultimately from the Latin 'gelatus' meaning 'frozen' or 'stiffened'.
Examples
She applied a clear styling gel to her hair.
The mixture will begin to gel as it cools in the refrigerator.
After a few meetings, the new team really started to gel.