Definition

Verb: 1. To convert into a gelatinous form or jelly: To cause a substance, especially starch, to swell, absorb liquid, and form a viscous, semi-solid mass similar to gelatin when heated with a liquid. 2. To become gelatinous or change into a jelly: For a substance to undergo the process of becoming thick, viscous, and jelly-like, typically upon heating.

Usage and Examples

• Verb (Transitive - to cause the change):
  • The chef used heat to gelatinise the fruit pectin, creating a perfect jam.
  • In cooking, you must gelatinise the cornflour by mixing it with cold water first, then heating the mixture.
• Verb (Intransitive - to undergo the change):
  • As the sauce simmered, the starch began to gelatinise, thickening it nicely.
  • The mixture will gelatinise upon cooling, so pour it into molds while it's still liquid.

Advanced Usage

• Scientific/Technical Context: The term is frequently used in chemistry, food science, and materials science to describe the hydration and swelling of polymers, particularly starches.
  • The experiment demonstrated how different temperatures gelatinise starches at varying rates.

Variants and Related Words

• Gelatinize (Verb): An alternative spelling with the same meaning, more common in American English.
• Gelatinisation/Gelatinization (Noun): The process or result of gelatinising.
  • The gelatinisation of starch is a key step in making gravy.
• Gel (Verb/Noun): A more general term for forming a semi-solid colloid. "Gelatinise" often implies the specific process involving heat and starch.

Synonyms

• Thicken (more general)
• Congeal (often implies solidifying from a liquid, usually upon cooling)
• Jellify (to make into a jelly)

Antonyms

• Liquefy
• Thin
• Disperse

Verb

1. convert into gelatinous form or jelly
   • hot water will gelatinize starch
2. become gelatinous or change into a jelly
   • the starch gelatinized when it was heated