Words / A2

JEL-ee/ˈdʒeli/

Jelly is a wobbly sweet dessert made from fruit juice: strawberry jelly, jelly and ice cream, a bowl of jelly. Jam is thicker and spread on bread (in British English jam, not jelly, for that). American jelly often means jam — a useful contrast. Gelatine makes it set. Do not write jolly (cheerful) for jelly.

Meaning

A soft, sweet fruit dessert that shakes when you move it.

Examples

• “The children had jelly and ice cream.”
• “The kids ate jelly after the Sunday roast.”
• “She made orange jelly in a glass bowl.”

Good to know

jelly and ice cream. British: jam on toast (US jelly often = jam). Mix-up: jolly.

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