/ ˈdʒeli; NAmE / ( pl. -ies ) noun
1.
[ U , C ] ( BrE ) ( NAmE jello , Jell-O™ [ U ]) a cold sweet transparent food made from gelatin , sugar and fruit juice, that shakes when it is moved :
jelly and ice cream
a raspberry jelly
2.
[ U ] a substance like jelly made from gelatin and meat juices, served around meat, fish, etc.
SYN aspic :
chicken in jelly
3.
[ U , C ] a type of jam that does not contain any pieces of fruit :
blackcurrant jelly
—compare jam
4.
[ U ] any thick sticky substance, especially a type of cream used on the skin
—see also petroleum jelly , royal jelly
5.
(also ˈjelly shoe ) [ C ] a light plastic shoe designed for wearing on the beach and in the sea
•
IDIOMS
- be / feel like jelly | turn to jelly
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French gelee frost, jelly, from Latin gelata frozen, from gelare freeze, from gelu frost.