Gel is a thick, jelly-like substance that holds its shape but isn't quite solid or liquid. Hair gel keeps your hairstyle in place throughout the day. Hand sanitizer is often a clear gel that you rub between your palms. Toothpaste is a gel that squeezes from the tube but doesn't just pour out like water.

Scientists create gels by mixing ingredients that form a network, trapping liquid inside like a sponge holds water. Jell-O is a familiar gel you can eat. The substance feels wobbly and soft but maintains its form until you break it apart.

The word also means to come together or take shape, usually gradually. When a plan finally gels, all the scattered ideas fit together and make sense. You might say, “Our team didn't work well at first, but after a few practices, we really started to gel.” This meaning captures that moment when separate parts blend into something that works smoothly, like ingredients transforming into that thick, cohesive substance.