A highly porous solid formed from a gel, such as silica gel, in which the liquid is replaced with a gas; frozen smoke: Aerogel is an extremely permeable solid produced by the replacement of liquid in a gel with a gas so that there is little shrinkage.

A gel formed by the dispersion of air in a solidified matrix like a solid foam, as Styrofoam.

Aerogel is a porous solid formed by replacing the liquid of a gel with a gas, such as rigid plastic foam.

1. Short for "gelatin", a colloidal system comprising a solid and a liquid phase which exists as a solid or semisolid mass: Dr. Smith suggested that Jenny use a special gel to use in her nose to keep it lubricated.

A gel can be explained as a phase that is largely liquid but incapable of flow because it is held rigid by molecular chains, usually cross-linked, that pass through it.
2. A jelly-like substance used in styling hair: Before going off to school in the morning, Max used some gel on his hair to make it look nice.

An amorphous, gummy carbohydrate: Gelase is found in Gelidium, agar-agar, and other seaweeds.

Gelase is not to be confused with "gelose".

1. A hardened mass of tissue: Gelasis resembles frozen tissue, especially in skeletal muscle.
2. Etymology: from Latin gelare, "congeal", but not gelosis, "laughter".

To convert or to be converted into a gel or a gelatin: Part of Hana's studies in pharmacy dealt with mixing certain substances in order to gelate a special colloid gel for medicinal purposes.

The conversion of a substance into a jelly-like mass; gelatinization: Gelatification is the formation or creation of gelatin.

Regarding something that produces or yields gelatin; gelatiniferous: In medical school, Sam viewed the gelatigeneous tissues of the sample given to the students to examine.

1. The product obtained by partial hydrolysis of collagen, occurring in sheets, flakes, shreds, or as a coarse or fine powder, insoluble in cold water but soluble in hot water: Gelatin is used in many pharmaceutical preparations, in formulations for histochemical examinations, as an ingredient of bacteriologic culture media, such as a food, as a plasma extender, and as an absorbable film or sponge in operative procedures.
2. An edible jelly produced from such material: When Mrs. Smart was making ham, she used gelatin with sugar in order to preserve it in clean, tightly closed jars.

A sheet of gelatin, prepared to decrease or stop bleeding in surgery: Dr. Hathaway used a gelatin spong during the operation on Virginia'S wrist.

An enzyme that hydrolyzes and liquefies gelatin: Gelatinase is found in some yeasts and molds,

To convert or to be converted into gelatin, or into a substance resembling jelly; gelatinize: In her class on photography, Mark learned how to gelatinate or coat glass and paper.

The act or process of converting into gelatin, or a substance like jelly; gelatinization: Tony read about gelatination in his book for class, and found out that it was simply the convesion into a jelly-like substance.

1. A colorless water-soluble glutinous protein obtained from animal tissues: Gelatine is found inbone and skin.
2. A colorless or slightly yellow, transparent, brittle protein formed by boiling the specially prepared skin, bones, and connective tissue of animals: Gelatine is used in foods, drugs, and photographic film.
3. A jelly made with gelatin: Jill sometimes used gelatine as a dessert or even as a salad base.
4. A thin sheet made of colored gelatin: Gelatine is also used in theatrical lighting; and is also called "gel".

The characteristics of gelatin and gelatine

Gelatin is a protein product produced by partial hydrolysis of collagen extracted from skin, bones, cartilage, ligaments, etc. The natural molecular bonds between individual collagen strands are broken down into a form that rearranges more easily. Gelatin melts when heated and solidifies when cooled again. Together with water it forms a semi-solid colloidal gel.

A colloid consists of microscopic particles suspended in some sort of liquid medium. The particles are between one nanometer and one micrometer in size and can be macromolecules (relating to large molecules including, proteins, nucleic acids and carbohydrates).

Gelatine is a nitrogeneous colloid, not existing as such in the animal body, but formed by the hydrating action of boiling water on the collagen of various kinds of connective tissue, such as tendons, bones, ligaments, etc. Its distinguishing character is that of dissolving in hot water and forming a jelly on cooling. It is an important ingredient of calf's-foot jelly, isinglass, glue, etc. It is used as food, but its nutritious qualities are of a low order.

Both spellings, gelatin and gelatine, are in good use, however the tendency of writers on physiological chemistry favors the form gelatin, as in the United States Dispensatory, the United States Pharmacopoeia, Fownes' Watts' Chemistry, and in Brande & Cox's Dictionary.

Other applications of gelatine

"Blasting gelatin", an explosive, containing about ninety-five parts of nitroglycerin and five of collodion. "Gelatin process", a name applied to a number of processes in the arts, involving the use of gelatin. Especially, a method of producing facsimile copies of an original, written or drawn in aniline ink upon paper, thence transferred to a cake of gelatin softened with glycerin, from which impressions are taken upon ordinary paper; vegetable gelatin.

Outdated, producting gelatin on boiling with water; capable of gelatination: In his chemistry class, Thomas learned about gelatiniferous tissues and gelatiniferous fibres and their use in in food, for example.

Referring to something that has the form of gelatin or formed like gelatin: Dr. Smith helped out operating and discovered a gelatiniform membrane which was attached to a nerve fibre.