jelly
jelly — noun
- jellysingular
- jelliesplural
1. a clear, sweet spread made by boiling fruit juice with sugar until it thickens,
a clear, sweet spread made by boiling fruit juice with sugar until it thickens, eaten on bread, toast, or biscuits.
Arjun spread strawberry jelly on his toast and took a big bite.
collocation: spread jelly on toast
This brand makes a lovely grape jelly that has no fruit pieces in it.
Adina prefers smooth jelly over chunky jam because she does not like bits of fruit.
My grandmother made crab apple jelly every autumn using fruit from the garden.
Could you pass the jelly and the butter, please?
- jam
jam contains pieces of fruit or crushed fruit; jelly is smooth and clear — made only from juice.
- preserve
a broader term for any fruit spread; preserve often has larger fruit chunks than jelly.
- marmalade
a preserve made from citrus fruit, usually containing peel; different from jelly in both ingredients and texture.
文法句型
often used as uncountable
用法筆記
In US English, this is the usual meaning of jelly. In the UK and Australia, this kind of fruit spread is called jam, and jelly refers to the wobbly gelatin dessert (sense 2).
常見錯誤
2. a cold, wobbly dessert made with gelatine, sugar, and fruit flavouring, often br
a cold, wobbly dessert made with gelatine, sugar, and fruit flavouring, often brightly coloured and served in a bowl.
The children each had a bowl of green jelly with ice cream after lunch.
served as a dessert in a bowl
Camille made a strawberry jelly for the party and set it in a fancy mould.
Grandpa poured warm custard over his jelly, which made it taste even sweeter.
Anong does not like how jelly wobbles on the spoon, so she never orders it.
At the school fair there was a jelly-eating contest that ended with sticky faces everywhere.
- Jell-O
brand name for the same dessert, commonly used in the US; 'jelly' is the UK term.
- gelatin dessert
formal description of the same food; most common in US recipes and packaging.
文法句型
a jelly (singular count)
jelly (uncountable as substance)
用法筆記
In the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, this is the main meaning of jelly. In the US, this dessert is usually called Jell-O (a brand name) or gelatin dessert.
常見錯誤
3. any soft, semi-solid substance that moves or shakes slightly when you touch it,
any soft, semi-solid substance that moves or shakes slightly when you touch it, similar in texture to a thick gel.
The chef served a meat broth that had cooled into a savoury brown jelly.
Ilan cleaned the fish tank and scraped green jelly off the glass.
context: a layer of jelly-like growth
The frog spawn looked like a mass of tiny black dots floating in clear jelly.
Minho touched the strange jelly on the beach and it slid through his fingers.
- gel
usually refers to a firmer, clearer semi-solid than jelly; gel is often used for cosmetic or scientific products.
- gelatinous substance
more formal or scientific term for a jelly-like material.
文法句型
often uncountable
用法筆記
This is a descriptive meaning, not a specific food or product. Any substance with a wobbly, semi-wet texture can be called jelly, from biological material to industrial gels.
4. see-through plastic footwear that people wear to protect their feet at the seasi
see-through plastic footwear that people wear to protect their feet at the seaside or near water.
Manuela bought a pair of pink jellies to wear on her holiday to Cancún.
plural form: jellies
The children splashed through puddles in bright blue jelly shoes without getting their feet wet.
material: transparent plastic
Jude noticed cheap jellies can rub your heels if you walk in them all day.
Aylin kept jelly sandals in her beach bag for walking on the sand.
- jellies
the short, common name for this type of shoe.
- plastic sandals
a broader category; not all plastic sandals are transparent or beach-specific like jellies.
文法句型
usually plural: jellies
a pair of jellies
用法筆記
Sometimes called jelly shoes or jellies. Popular as summer footwear because they are waterproof, lightweight, and inexpensive. The plastic can be hard on feet for long walks, so they are best for short periods on the beach or near water.
5. an informal short form of jellyfish — a sea animal with a soft, transparent, bel
an informal short form of jellyfish — a sea animal with a soft, transparent, bell-shaped body and long thin parts that may sting.
Arjun spotted a huge jelly pulsing through the water near the boat.
verb: pulsing describes movement
The lifeguard warned swimmers that there were jellies in the water after the storm.
informal register: jellies
Nala drew a picture of a glowing blue jelly with long, wavy tentacles.
The beach was closed because thousands of tiny jellies had washed up on the sand.
- jellyfish
the full formal name; preferred in scientific or careful writing.
文法句型
a jelly (singular)
jellies (plural)
用法筆記
Use jelly as a short form of jellyfish in informal conversation only. In formal writing or scientific contexts, jellyfish is the correct term. This sense is common when talking to other beachgoers or divers.
常見錯誤
6. a thick, sticky semi-solid substance applied to the skin for medical treatment,
a thick, sticky semi-solid substance applied to the skin for medical treatment, cleaning, or moisturising.
The nurse spread jelly on the ultrasound probe before moving it across Folake's stomach.
medical use: ultrasound jelly
Charlotte uses an aloe vera jelly on her sunburn to help cool the skin.
cosmetic: aloe vera jelly
The doctor gave me antibiotic jelly to put on the cut daily.
Camille bought a hair-styling jelly that keeps her curls in place without making them stiff.
- gel
nearly interchangeable in this sense; gel is more common in modern product labels, while jelly feels slightly older or more British.
- cream
cream has a lighter, less sticky texture than jelly, and usually contains more oil and water.
- ointment
ointment is greasier and thicker, usually oil-based, while jelly is water-based and feels wet on the skin.
文法句型
jelly (uncountable, as substance)
a jelly (a type/brand)
用法筆記
Common in medical contexts (ultrasound gel, antibiotic gel), cosmetic routines (moisturising gel, hair gel), and personal care. The word jelly here emphasises the thick, sticky texture rather than any specific formula.
7. a feeling of extreme nervousness, fear, or weakness that makes your body feel so
a feeling of extreme nervousness, fear, or weakness that makes your body feel soft, shaky, and unable to move steadily.
When Ilan stepped on stage to give his speech, his knees turned to jelly.
fixed phrase: turn to jelly
Charlotte's legs felt like jelly as she waited for the test results.
fixed phrase: legs feel like jelly
The news that the building was on fire made everyone's stomachs turn to jelly.
Minho goes wobbly like jelly when it is his turn to speak in class.
The movers' arms were jelly after carrying heavy boxes up four flights of stairs.
- nerves
general term for anxiety; less vivid and not associated with a physical sensation of weakness.
- butterflies
refers specifically to the fluttery feeling in your stomach, while jelly can refer to any body part feeling weak.
文法句型
feel like jelly
turn to jelly
legs like jelly
用法筆記
Only used in set phrases such as feel like jelly, turn to jelly, or [body part] like jelly, all describing a physical reaction to fear, shock, or extreme fatigue. Never used as a simple noun in this sense — you cannot say 'I have jelly' to mean nervousness.
常見錯誤
jelly — verb
- jellypresent simple I / you / we / they
- jellies3rd person singular
- jellying-ing form
- jelliedpast simple
1. to become firm and jelly-like, or to cause a liquid to become firm and jelly-lik
to become firm and jelly-like, or to cause a liquid to become firm and jelly-like, usually by cooling or adding gelatine.
Adina jellied the meat stock by leaving it in the fridge overnight.
transitive: jelly + direct object
Fruit juice will jelly on its own if you add pectin and let it cool.
intransitive: jelly on its own
Rosa jellied the poaching liquid by chilling it in the fridge for two hours.
If you boil the marrow bones long enough, the broth will jelly when chilled.
- set
the most common everyday verb for this process; 'set' is simpler and more natural in conversation.
- solidify
more formal and general; can apply to any substance becoming solid, not just jelly-like textures.
- gel
informal and used for both cooking and abstract ideas; 'the plan finally gelled' but 'the jam gelled overnight'.
文法句型
jelly something
something jellies
用法筆記
This verb is much less common than the noun. In everyday conversation, people usually say 'set' or 'solidify' instead. Jelly as a verb appears most often in recipes and food-writing contexts.