Colloid vs. Gel

Glue-like; gelatinous.

Example: ‘colloid tumours’;

(chemistry) A stable system of two phases, one of which is dispersed in the other in the form of very small droplets or particles.

(meteorology) An intimate mixture of two substances one of which, called the dispersed phase (or colloid), is uniformly distributed in a finely divided state throughout the second substance, called the dispersion medium (or dispersing medium).

(geology) A particle less than 1 micron in diameter, following the Wentworth scale

Resembling glue or jelly; characterized by a jellylike appearance; gelatinous; as, colloid tumors.

A substance (as albumin, gum, gelatin, etc.) which is of a gelatinous rather than a crystalline nature, and which diffuses itself through animal membranes or vegetable parchment more slowly than crystalloids do; - opposed to crystalloid.

A gelatinous substance found in colloid degeneration and colloid cancer.

a mixture with properties between those of a solution and fine suspension

A colloid is a mixture in which one substance of microscopically dispersed insoluble particles are suspended throughout another substance. However, some definitions specify that the particles must be dispersed in a liquid, and others extend the definition to include substances like aerosols and gels.

A semi-solid to almost solid colloid of a solid and a liquid, such as jelly, cheese or opal.

Any gel intended for a particular cosmetic use, such as for styling the hair.

(British) A girl.

(transitive) To apply (cosmetic) gel to (the hair, etc).

(intransitive) To become a gel.

(intransitive) To develop a rapport.

a colloid in a more solid form than a sol

a thin translucent membrane used over stage lights for color effects

become a gel;

Example: ‘The solid, when heated, gelled’;

apply a styling gel to;

Example: ‘she mousses her hair’;

a a thick, clear, slightly sticky substance, especially one used in cosmetic or medicinal products

Example: ‘hair gel’;

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

a semi-rigid slab or cylinder of an organic polymer used as a medium for the separation of macromolecules.

an upper-class or well-bred girl or young woman

Example: ‘fastidiously reared Home Counties gels’;

(of a liquid or semi-liquid substance) set or become more solid

Example: ‘the stew is gelling’;

form into a gel

Example: ‘the mixture gelled at 7 degrees Celsius’;

(of a project or idea) take a definite form or begin to work well

Example: ‘everything seemed to gel for the magazine’;

(of people) work well together

Example: ‘during the tour they continued to gel as a band’;

apply gel to (the hair)

Example: ‘short gelled hair’; ‘they'd gelled their hair’;

A gel is a semi-solid that can have properties ranging from soft and weak to hard and tough. Gels are defined as a substantially dilute cross-linked system, which exhibits no flow when in the steady-state.