gel

The word “gel” means a soft, semi-solid substance somewhere between a liquid and a solid, such as hair gel or a jelly-like material. In plain terms, a jelly-like substance, or (as a verb) for people or ideas to come together well.

“Gel” is pronounced jehl (/d͡ʒɛl/ in IPA).

Here is “gel” used in a sentence: “She smoothed a bit of gel through her hair.”

Depending on how it is used, “gel” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “gel” dates back to around 1800 and comes from Latin. Coined in the 1800s by chemist Thomas Graham as a short form of gelatin, which itself traces back to Latin gelu, "frost.".

“Gel” is a fairly common word in modern English.

“Gel” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a soft, semi-solid substance somewhere between a liquid and a solid, such as hair gel or a jelly-like material.

"Gel" refers broadly to any soft, semi-solid substance between a liquid and a solid, such as hair gel or shower gel. "Jelly" is often used more specifically for a food product or a similar wobbly texture, though the two terms overlap considerably in everyday use.

Used as a verb, "gel" means to come together successfully as a group or idea, as when new teammates "gel" quickly or a plan finally "gels" after several changes.

Yes, "gel" functions as a noun for the semi-solid substance itself, such as hair gel, and as a verb meaning to come together successfully or click, as in a group of people or ideas gelling.