jelly

/ˈdʒeli/ (bre, ipa) · [dʒˈɛli] /ˈdʒeli/ (ame, ipa) · [dʒˈɛli] /ˈje-lē/ (ame, mw)

jelly — noun

  • jellysingular
  • jelliesplural

1. a smooth sweet spread made from fruit juice or strained fruit and sugar, usually

1.名詞B1
釋義

a smooth sweet spread made from fruit juice or strained fruit and sugar, usually eaten on bread or used as a filling.

例句

Manuela spread grape jelly on warm toast before school.

collocation: spread jelly on toast

Theo prefers jelly, while his sister likes chunky strawberry jam.

contrast: smooth jelly vs chunky jam

同義詞
  • jam

    usually contains crushed fruit or small fruit pieces, so it is less smooth

  • preserve

    often suggests a more traditional fruit spread, sometimes with larger fruit pieces

文法句型

some jelly

jelly on toast/bread

用法筆記

Mostly North American. In British English, the same spread is more often called jam, while jelly usually means the wobbling dessert in sense 2.

常見錯誤

❌In British English, I had jelly on my toast.
✅In British English, I had jam on my toast.
💡In standard BrE, jelly usually means the soft dessert, not the smooth fruit spread.

2. a sweet dessert that holds a soft shape and wobbles when you move it, usually af

2.名詞A2
釋義

a sweet dessert that holds a soft shape and wobbles when you move it, usually after it has been chilled.

例句

The orange jelly shook gently when Naoko carried it to the table.

jelly + shook gently when moved

After dinner, the children asked for green jelly with whipped cream.

同義詞

文法句型

some jelly

a jelly for dessert

用法筆記

Mostly British. In North American English, people usually use gelatin dessert or a brand name instead. Distinguish from sense 1, which refers to the smooth fruit spread.

3. any soft semi-solid material that feels wet and moves in a wobbling way like jel

3.名詞B2
釋義

any soft semi-solid material that feels wet and moves in a wobbling way like jelly.

例句

A clear jelly formed around the seeds when Aarav cut the tomato open.

clear jelly around seeds

The cream turns into a cooling jelly as soon as it touches your skin.

同義詞
  • gel

    often suggests a smoother or more controlled product texture

  • goo

    more informal and usually suggests something messier

文法句型

a jelly of + substance

turn into a jelly

用法筆記

Often modified by a color or material word, especially when describing skin products, seeds, or other soft substances.

4. a light sandal of clear or brightly colored plastic, usually worn at the beach o

4.名詞B1
釋義

a light sandal of clear or brightly colored plastic, usually worn at the beach or in summer.

例句

Constanza wore pink jellies while running across the wet sand.

plural use: wear jellies at the beach

One jelly slipped off the little boy's foot in the shallow water.

同義詞
  • sandal

    the general category; jelly adds the idea of soft plastic material

文法句型

a jelly

a pair of jellies

用法筆記

Usually appears in the plural when talking about the shoes as something you wear together. Common in beachwear or children's clothing contexts.

5. a jellyfish, used as a short informal name.

5.名詞B1
釋義

a jellyfish, used as a short informal name.

例句

A small blue jelly floated past the pier at sunrise.

shortened use for jellyfish

The diver pointed at a glowing jelly beneath the boat.

同義詞

文法句型

a jelly

jelly in the water

用法筆記

A shortened everyday form of jellyfish. Common when the kind of sea creature is already obvious from the situation.

6. a nervous weak feeling that makes your legs or body seem unsteady.

6.名詞C1
釋義

a nervous weak feeling that makes your legs or body seem unsteady.

例句

Just before the speech, Wren felt the jelly in her knees again.

feel the jelly in your knees

One look over the cliff gave the new climber the jelly.

文法句型

feel the jelly

give someone the jelly

用法筆記

Usually appears in phrases with body parts, especially knees or legs. The word suggests fear or nervous weakness rather than an actual injury.

jelly — verb

jelly — adjective