jelly

n. a sweet, wobbly food made with fruit juice and gelatin that children often eat.

n. a dessert made by boiling gelatin or a plant-based alternative with sugar and flavoring, then allowing it to set into a semi-solid state.

“The children had red jelly and ice cream at the birthday party.”

“The chef prepared a sophisticated raspberry jelly, carefully balancing the sugar content to ensure the mold held its shape when plated.”

British English

n. a smooth, clear jam made from fruit juice, often eaten on bread or toast.

n. a clear or translucent fruit preserve made from juice and set with pectin, distinguished from jam by its lack of solid fruit pieces.

“He spread some grape jelly on his toast before leaving for work.”

“In North America, a classic lunch often consists of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, typically using smooth grape or strawberry preserves.”

American English

n. a simple way to say 'jellyfish'.

n. a colloquial clipping for jellyfish, referring to the gelatinous marine zooplankton.

“Be careful while swimming; there are lots of jellies in the water today.”

“Marine biologists observed a swarm of jellies drifting with the current, noting the translucent bells of the moon jellyfish species.”

Informal

n. a cold, salty substance made from meat juices that has turned solid.

n. a savory substance, often called aspic, derived from meat or fish stock that has set into a gelatinous texture.

“The cold pork pie was filled with a salty meat jelly.”

“Traditional recipes for pork pies require a layer of savory jelly to be poured into the crust after baking to fill the air gaps.”

Formal

v. to turn into a soft, wobbly solid.

v. to convert a liquid into a gelatinous state or to preserve food within such a substance.

“The sauce will jelly if you leave it in the fridge overnight.”

“The mixture began to jelly as the temperature dropped, eventually reaching the perfect consistency for the fruit mold.”

n. a slang name for a type of powerful explosive.

n. a colloquial clipping of gelignite, a powerful explosive used in mining and construction.

“The workers used jelly to clear the rocks for the new tunnel.”

“The demolition crew handled the jelly with extreme caution, ensuring the charges were placed precisely to bring down the old bridge safely.”

Informal · Technical