gelatin

IPA/ˈdʒelətɪn/
KK[dʒˈɛlətən]IPA/ˈdʒelətɪn/

gelatin — noun

1. A natural protein obtained by boiling animal bones, skin, and connective tissue,

1.nounB1
Definition

A natural protein obtained by boiling animal bones, skin, and connective tissue, used as a thickening agent in foods and in products such as capsules and photographic materials.

Example

To make the panna cotta, Jiwoo dissolved the gelatin powder in warm water.

dissolve gelatin in [liquid]

Many vitamin capsules are made from gelatin so they break down easily in the stomach.

made from gelatin — passive construction

Common collocations
  • gelatin powder
  • gelatin sheet
  • gelatin capsule
  • dissolve gelatin
  • be made from gelatin
Synonyms
  • gelatine

    Alternative spelling common in British English; identical in meaning.

  • collagen

    The raw protein from which gelatin is extracted; used in different contexts such as skincare.

  • isinglass

    A type of gelatin obtained from fish bladders, used historically in brewing and cooking.

Antonyms
  • agar

    A plant-based gelling agent derived from seaweed, used as a vegetarian substitute for gelatin.

Grammar Patterns

gelatin + noun (gelatin powder, gelatin capsule)

made from gelatin

Usage Note

Gelatin is an uncountable noun in this sense. British English also uses the spelling gelatine, though gelatin is more common internationally. Vegetarian alternatives such as agar or pectin are often used in place of gelatin.

Common Mistakes

I bought some gelatins for cooking.
I bought some gelatin for cooking.
In this sense, gelatin is uncountable and does not take a plural form.
Vegetarian gelatin is made from animal bones.
Vegetarian gelatin is made from plant-based ingredients such as agar.
Gelatin is always animal-derived; plant-based gelling agents are not gelatin.

2. A sweet jelly dessert produced by dissolving gelatin in flavoured liquid and all

2.nounB1
Definition

A sweet jelly dessert produced by dissolving gelatin in flavoured liquid and allowing the mixture to cool until it becomes firm, often eaten on its own or served with fruit.

Example

Dahlia brought a strawberry gelatin dessert to the potluck dinner.

[flavour] gelatin dessert

The children laughed as their lime gelatin wobbled on the plate.

gelatin wobbles — describing texture

Common collocations
  • strawberry gelatin
  • lime gelatin
  • gelatin dessert
  • gelatin salad
  • gelatin mould
  • set the gelatin
  • chill the gelatin
Synonyms
  • Jell-O

    The most well-known brand of gelatin dessert in the US; often used as a generic term in North America.

  • jelly

    Standard British term for a gelatin dessert; in American English, jelly refers to a fruit spread.

  • aspic

    A savory gelatin dessert made with meat stock, vegetables, or seafood.

Grammar Patterns

[flavour] gelatin

a gelatin dessert

Usage Note

In American English, the brand name Jell-O is often used informally to refer to any gelatin dessert. In British English, the word jelly covers both the ingredient and the dessert, which can cause confusion between the two varieties of English.

Common Mistakes

I ate a gelatin for dessert.
I ate a gelatin dessert for dessert.' or 'I had some gelatin.
When referring to the food item, a dessert or some gelatin sound more natural than a gelatin on its own.
This gelatin has a strawberry taste.
This gelatin has a strawberry flavour.
In food contexts, flavour is preferred over taste for describing varieties of gelatin desserts.

Word family

  • gelatine
    nounB1
  • gelatinous
    adjectiveC1
  • gel
    nounB2
  • gelatinize
    verbC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

All five words describe foods with a soft, semi-solid texture, but they differ in key ways. Jelly is the standard British term for a gelatin dessert; in American English, jelly is a fruit spread and the dessert is called Jell-O (genericized from the Kraft brand) or gelatin dessert. Aspic is a savoury jelly made from meat stock, used to coat or set cold meats, vegetables, and seafood — it is never sweet. Panna cotta is an Italian dessert set with gelatin but includes cream and sugar for a rich, silky texture unlike the clear, fruit-based wobble of gelatin. Mousse is light and airy because it incorporates whipped egg whites or cream, whereas gelatin dessert has a firm, jiggly consistency. For example, you would serve a lime gelatin dessert to children for a birthday party, but a panna cotta with raspberry sauce at a dinner party, and an aspic ring filled with shrimp for a retro appetiser.

jelly ↗Jell-O ↗aspic ↗panna cottamousse ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • dissolve gelatin
  • set gelatin
  • gelatin powder
  • gelatin capsules
  • gelatin dessert

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinItalianFrenchEnglish

The word gelatin comes from French gélatine, which was borrowed from Italian gelatina meaning 'jelly' or 'frozen dish'. The Italian word traces back to Latin gelātus, meaning 'frozen' or 'stiff', from gelū meaning 'frost' or 'intense cold'. The sense of a substance used in photography emerged in the late 1800s as gelatin became the standard base for photographic emulsions on film.

First known use

1800

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 1