Dictionary Home »
Dictionary Definitions » jelly
jelly
(jel′ē)
noun pl. jellies
- a soft, resilient, partially transparent, semisolid, gelatinous food resulting from the cooling of fruit juice boiled with sugar, or of meat juice cooked down
- any substance like this; gelatinous substance
Origin: ME gely < OFr gelée, a frost, jelly < fem. pp. of geler < L gelare, to freeze: see gelatin
intransitive verb
to become jelly
Related Forms:
- jellylike adjective
See jelly in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun pl. jel·lies
- A soft, semisolid food substance with a resilient consistency, made by the setting of a liquid containing pectin or gelatin or by the addition of gelatin to a liquid, especially such a substance made of fruit juice containing pectin boiled with sugar.
- Something, such as a petroleum ointment, having the consistency of a soft, semisolid food substance.
- A shapeless, pulpy mass: The hero's laser zapped the monster, turning it to jelly.
- Something, such as a body part, that has suddenly become limp or enervated: Her knees turned to jelly when she learned she won first prize.
- A jellyfish.
To cause to have the consistency of jelly.
verb, intransitive To acquire the consistency of jelly. See Synonyms at coagulate.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English gelee
Origin: , from Old French
Origin: , from Vulgar Latin *gelāta
Origin: , from Latin
Origin: , feminine past participle of gelāre, to freeze; see gel- in Indo-European roots
.Learn more about jelly
