I. ˈjelē, -li noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English gelly, gellie, from Middle French gelee frost, jelly, from feminine of gelé (past participle of geler to freeze, congeal), from Latin gelatus, past participle of gelare to freeze, congeal — more at cold
1. : a semitransparent easily melted food preparation having a soft somewhat elastic consistency due to the presence of gelatin, pectin, or a similar substance: as
a. : aspic III
b. : a dessert made usually by adding gelatin to fruit juices
c. : a fruit product made by boiling sugar and the juice of fruit containing pectin
2. : a substance resembling jelly especially in consistency: as
a. : a transparent elastic gel
b. : a semisolid medicated or cosmetic preparation often having a gum base and usually intended for local application
ephedrine jelly
c. : a jellylike preparation used in electrocardiography to obtain better conduction of electricity
electrode jelly
3. : a gelatinous blue-green alga of the genus Nostoc found on damp ground especially after a rain
4. : jellyfish
5. : a gelatin screen used to color or diffuse light (as of a theater spotlight)
6. : a moral or emotional state felt to resemble jelly ; especially : a state of fear or irresolution
reduced to quivering jelly at the decisive moment
7. : a shapeless structureless mass : pulp
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
intransitive verb
1. : to become jelly : come to the consistency of jelly : set — compare gel II
2. : to make jelly
will be jellying for days — Elizabeth Janeway
transitive verb
: to bring to the consistency of jelly — compare gelatinize
III. adjective
Etymology: alteration of jolly
Scotland : pompous , proud