crystal

¹

[ kris-tl ]

noun

1. a clear, transparent mineral or glass resembling ice.
2. the transparent form of crystallized quartz.
3. Chemistry, Mineralogy. a solid body having a characteristic internal structure and enclosed by symmetrically arranged plane surfaces, intersecting at definite and characteristic angles.
4. anything made of or resembling such a substance.
5. a single grain or mass of a crystalline substance.
6. glass of fine quality and a high degree of brilliance.
7. articles, especially glassware for the table and ornamental objects, made of such a glass.
8. the glass or plastic cover over the face of a watch.
9. Radio.
   1. the piece of germanium, silicon, galena, or the like forming the essential part of a crystal detector.
   2. the crystal detector itself.
10. Electronics. a quartz crystal ground in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, which vibrates strongly at one frequency when electric voltages of that frequency are placed across opposite sides: used to control the frequency of an oscillator crystal oscillator, as of a radio transmitter.
11. Slang. any stimulant drug in powder form, as methamphetamine or PCP.

adjective

1. composed of crystal.
2. resembling crystal; clear; transparent.
3. Radio. pertaining to or employing a crystal detector.
4. indicating the fifteenth event of a series, as a wedding anniversary.

verb (used with object)

, crys·taled, crys·tal·ing or (especially British) crys·talled, crys·tal·ling.

1. to make into crystal; crystallize.
2. to cover or coat with, or as if with, crystal (usually followed by over ).

Crystal

²

[ kris-tl ]

noun

1. a city in SE Minnesota, near Minneapolis.
2. a female given name.

crystal

/ ˈkrɪstəl /

noun

1. a piece of solid substance, such as quartz, with a regular shape in which plane faces intersect at definite angles, due to the regular internal structure of its atoms, ions, or molecules
2. a single grain of a crystalline substance
3. anything resembling a crystal, such as a piece of cut glass
4. 1. a highly transparent and brilliant type of glass, often used in cut-glass tableware, ornaments, etc
   2. ( as modifier )

      a crystal chandelier

5. something made of or resembling crystal
6. crystal glass articles collectively
7. electronics
   1. a crystalline element used in certain electronic devices as a detector, oscillator, transducer, etc
   2. ( as modifier )

      crystal pick-up

      crystal detector

8. a transparent cover for the face of a watch, usually of glass or plastic
9. modifier of or relating to a crystal or the regular atomic arrangement of crystals

   crystal structure

   crystal lattice

adjective

1. resembling crystal; transparent

   crystal water

crystal

/ krĭs′təl /

1. A homogenous solid formed by a repeating, three-dimensional pattern of atoms, ions, or molecules and having smooth external surfaces with characteristic angles between them. Crystals can occur in many sizes and shapes.
2. ◆ The particular arrangement in space of these atoms, molecules, or ions, and the way in which they are joined, is called a crystal lattice. There are seven crystal groups or systems. Each is defined on the basis of the geometrical arrangement of the crystal lattice.
3. 1. A natural or synthetic material, such as quartz or ceramic, that consists of such crystals. When subjected to mechanical stresses, crystalline materials can generate an electric charge or, when subjected to an electric field, they can generate mechanical vibrations in what is known as the piezoelectric effect .
   2. An electrical device, such as an oscillator or a diode used for detecting radio signals, made of such a material.

crystal

1. A material in which the atoms are arranged in a rigid geometrical structure ( see geometry ) marked by symmetry . Crystals often have clearly visible geometrical shapes.

Notes

Most minerals are crystalline structures.

Other Words From

• crystal·like adjective
• un·crystaled adjective
• un·crystalled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of crystal¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English cristal(le), Old English cristalla, from Medieval Latin cristallum, Latin crystallum, from Greek krýstallos “clear ice, rock crystal,” derivative of krystaínein “to freeze”; akin to krȳmós “frost, cold” ( crymotherapy ), krýos “cold, frost” ( cryo- )

Word History and Origins

Origin of crystal¹

Old English cristalla, from Latin crystallum, from Greek krustallos ice, crystal, from krustainein to freeze

Example Sentences

Researchers at University of Limerick in Ireland have developed a new method of growing organic crystals that can be used for energy-harvesting applications.

From Science Daily

The design of the novel type of smart crystals, which the researchers named Janus crystals, is inspired by desert plants and animals, which can survive in arid conditions.

From Science Daily

Organic molecular crystals are an important class of materials in many industries, from pharmaceuticals and agriculture to electronics and explosives.

From Science Daily

It is thought this behaviour is connected to the densely packed crystal structures of candidate materials.

From Science Daily

But recently, one material in particular has piqued the interest of these researchers: macrocyclic molecular crystals.

From Science Daily