crystall-

¹

1. variant of crystallo- before a vowel:

   crystallite.

crystall.

²

abbreviation for

1. crystallography.

Example Sentences

John Ray Stearns was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Crystall Lavelle Williams, 33, whose body was found on Jan. 14, 1998, in Dr. Blanche Lavisso Park at 2100 South Jackson Street.

From Seattle Times

Whose soul's sheath'd in a crystall shrine,25 Through which all her bright features shine?

From Project Gutenberg

When some new bright guest Takes vp among the starres a room, And Heaun will make a feast:phials Angels with crystall violls come And draw from these full eyes of thine,35 Their Master's water, their own wine.

From Project Gutenberg

Thawing crystall! snowy hills Still spending, neuer spent!

From Project Gutenberg

A peice of heau'nly earth; purer and brighter Then the chast starres, whose choise lamps come to light her, Whil'st through the crystall orbes, clearer then they5 She climbes; and makes a farre more Milkey Way.

From Project Gutenberg

Words That Use crystall-

What does crystall- mean?

Crystall- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “crystal.” It is used in some scientific terms, especially in geology and mineralogy.

Crystall- comes from the Greek krýstallos, meaning “clear ice, rock crystal,” source of the word crystal, as you may have guessed.

But did you guess the following? The Greek krýstallos is related to krýos, meaning “ice cold” or “frost” and source of the combining form cryo-. Learn more in our Words That Use cryo- article.

Crystall- is a variant of crystallo-, which loses its –o– when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels. Another variant of crystallo- is crystalli-, as in crystalliferous.

Want to know more? Read our Words That Use crystallo- and crystalli- articles.

Examples of crystall-

You may be familiar with the word crystallize, which means “to form into crystals.” By metaphorical extension, crystallize is also a verb meaning “to give definite or concrete form to” something, as in crystallizing idea.

The first part of the word, crystall-, means “crystal.” The second part of the word, the suffix -ize, is used to form verbs, including with the general sense of “to render, make.” So, crystallize literally translates “to make (into) crystals.”

What are some words that use the combining form crystall-?

• crystallin
• crystalloid (using the equivalent form of crystall- in Greek)
• crystallite

What are some other forms that crystall- may be commonly confused with?

• chrys-
• cry-
• cyan-

Break it down!

You may be familiar with the suffix -oid, meaning “resembling, like.” Given the meaning of crystal-, what does something crystalloid resemble?