gel

A thick, soft substance used on hair or skin.

• I put gel in my hair.
• This shower gel smells of roses.
• She bought a gel to keep her curls in place.

Common phrases: hair gel, shaving gel, shower gel

A soft, thick food that holds its shape, often made from fruit juice.

• The chef served a lemon gel.
• A thin layer of apple gel covered the dessert.
• These fruit gels add color to the plate.

Similar words: jelly

Common phrases: fruit gel, apple gel, lemon gel

If people do this, they get along well and work comfortably together.

• Our team gelled quickly.
• I never really gelled with his friends.
• Do the new players gel with the rest of the team?

How to use it: gel with someone (I gelled with my new colleagues immediately.)

Similar words: click, get along

Opposites: clash

Common phrases: gel with someone, gel as a team

If ideas or plans do this, they come together and become clear or complete.

• The plan is starting to gel.
• Their ideas finally gelled into a useful design.
• The story gelled after we changed the ending.

How to use it: gel into something (Our ideas gelled into a clear plan.)

Similar words: take shape, come together, cohere

Common phrases: ideas gel, gel into something

To become thick and soft enough to hold a shape.

• The mixture will gel as it cools.
• The fruit juice gelled overnight in the fridge.
• Why has this jelly failed to gel?

Similar words: set, thicken

Common phrases: gel properly, begin to gel

To put a thick styling substance on your hair to keep it in place.

• I gel my hair every morning.
• He gelled his hair into spikes.
• She gels her curls before leaving the house.

Common phrases: gel your hair, gel hair back