From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Gelatin \Gel"a*tin\, Gelatine \Gel"a*tine\, n. [F. g['e]latine,
fr. L. gelare to congeal. See {Geal}.] (Chem.)
Animal jelly; glutinous material obtained from animal tissues
by prolonged boiling. Specifically (Physiol. Chem.), a
nitrogeneous colloid, not existing as such in the animal
body, but formed by the hydrating action of boiling water on
the collagen of various kinds of connective tissue (as
tendons, bones, ligaments, etc.). Its distinguishing
character is that of dissolving in hot water, and forming a
jelly on cooling. It is an important ingredient of
calf's-foot jelly, isinglass, glue, etc. It is used as food,
but its nutritious qualities are of a low order.
[1913 Webster]
Note: Both spellings, gelatin and gelatine, are in good use,
but the tendency of writers on physiological chemistry
favors the form in -in, as in the United States
Dispensatory, the United States Pharmacop[oe]ia,
Fownes' Watts' Chemistry, Brande & Cox's Dictionary.
[1913 Webster]
{Blasting gelatin}, an explosive, containing about
ninety-five parts of nitroglycerin and five of collodion.
{Gelatin process}, a name applied to a number of processes in
the arts, involving the use of gelatin. Especially:
(a) (Photog.) A dry-plate process in which gelatin is used as
a substitute for collodion as the sensitized material.
This is the dry-plate process in general use, and plates
of extreme sensitiveness are produced by it.
(b) (Print.) A method of producing photographic copies of
drawings, engravings, printed pages, etc., and also of
photographic pictures, which can be printed from in a
press with ink, or (in some applications of the process)
which can be used as the molds of stereotype or
electrotype plates.
(c) (Print. or Copying) A method of producing facsimile
copies of an original, written or drawn in aniline ink
upon paper, thence transferred to a cake of gelatin
softened with glycerin, from which impressions are taken
upon ordinary paper.
{Vegetable gelatin}. See {Gliadin}.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
gelatin
n 1: a colorless water-soluble glutinous protein obtained from
animal tissues such as bone and skin [syn: {gelatin},
{gelatine}]
2: an edible jelly (sweet or pungent) made with gelatin and used
as a dessert or salad base or a coating for foods [syn:
{gelatin}, {jelly}]
3: a thin translucent membrane used over stage lights for color
effects [syn: {gelatin}, {gel}]
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