gel

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
gel1 /dʒɛl/

▶noun a jelly-like substance containing a cosmetic, medicinal, or other preparation.

■ Chemistry a semi-solid colloidal suspension of a solid dispersed in a liquid.

▶verb (gels, gelling, gelled)

• 1 Chemistry form into a gel.

• 2 smooth (one's hair) with gel.

– origin C19: abbrev. of gelatin.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
gel2 /dʒɛl/ (also jell)

▶verb (gels, gelling, gelled)

• 1 (of jelly or a similar substance) set or become firmer.

• 2 take definite form or begin to work well.

– origin C19: gel from gel1; the variant jell is a back-formation from jelly.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
gel3 /gɛl/

▶noun Brit. informal an upper-class or well-bred girl or young woman.

– origin C19: representing a pronunc.