gel-, gela-, gelati-, gelatino-, geli-, gelo-

(Latin: to freeze; frosting; cold; then, to congeal, and finally: gelatin)

Later it came to mean "to congeal"; having to do with "congealing" or with "gelatin, a protein derived from the partial hydrolysis of animal skin, connective tissue, and bone".

Don't confuse words from this Latin element with those from Greek gelo-, geloto-, meaning "laugh, laughing, laughter".

aerogel (s) (noun), aerogels (pl)
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 a highly porous solid formed 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.

gel
1. Short for gelatin; 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 colloidal system comprising a solid and a liquid phase which exists as a solid or semisolid mass.
3. A jellylike substance used in styling hair.
gelase (not gelose)
An amorphous, gummy carbohydrate, found in Gelidium, agar-agar, and other seaweeds.
gelasis (Latin: gelare, "congeal"; not gelosis, "laughter")
A hardened mass of tissue resembling frozen tissue, especially in skeletal muscle.
gelate, gelated
1. To convert or to be converted into a gel or a gelatin.
2. To become gelatinous.
gelatification
1. The conversion of a substance into a jellylike mass.
2. The formation of gelatin.
gelatigenous
1. Producing, or yielding, gelatin; gelatiniferous; as, the gelatigeneous tissues.
2. Producing or forming gelatin.
gelatin
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. It 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. A soluble protein obtained by boiling collagen with water, during which process the collagen is partly degraded; animal jelly.
gelatin sponge
A sheet of gelatin, prepared to decrease or stop bleeding when applied to a raw surface.
gelatinase
An enzyme, found in some yeasts and molds, that hydrolyzes and liquefies gelatin.
gelatinate
To convert into gelatin, or into a substance resembling jelly.
gelatination
The act of process of converting into gelatin, or a substance like jelly.
gelatine
1. A colorless water-soluble glutinous protein obtained from animal tissues such as bone and skin.
2. A colorless or slightly yellow, transparent, brittle protein formed by boiling the specially prepared skin, bones, and connective tissue of animals and used in foods, drugs, and photographic film; any of various similar substances.
3. A jelly made with gelatin, used as a dessert or salad base.
4. A thin sheet made of colored gelatin used in theatrical lighting; 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.

gelatiniferous
1. Yielding gelatin on boiling with water; capable of gelatination.
2. Producing gelatin.
gelatiniform
Having the form of gelatin or formed like gelatin.

Cross references of word families that are related directly or indirectly to "winter, freezing, frost, and/or cold": algid- (cold, chilly); cheimo-, chimo- (winter, cold); crymo-, krymo- (cold, chill, frost); cryo-, kryo-; (cold, freezing); hiber- (winter, wintry); pago- (cold, freezing); psychro- (cold); rhigo- (cold, frost; shiver).