crystal

[kris-tl] /ˈkrɪs 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
12.
composed of crystal.
13.
resembling crystal; clear; transparent.
14.
Radio. pertaining to or employing a crystal detector.
15.
indicating the fifteenth event of a series, as a wedding anniversary.
verb (used with object), crystaled, crystaling or (especially British) crystalled, crystalling.
16.
to make into crystal; crystallize.
17.
to cover or coat with, or as if with, crystal (usually followed by over).
Origin
before 1000; Middle English cristal(le), Old English cristalla < Medieval Latin cristallum, Latin crystallum < Greek krýstallos clear ice, rock crystal, derivative of krystaínein to freeze; see cryo-
Related forms
crystallike, adjective
uncrystaled, adjective
uncrystalled, adjective

Crystal

[kris-tl] /ˈkrɪs tl/
noun
1.
a city in SE Minnesota, near Minneapolis.
2.
a female given name.
Examples from the web for crystals
  • All you need is a wire basket, a few jam jars, and some pretty crystals.
  • It features a cascade of crystals hanging amid low-voltage track lights.
  • It contains crystals of calcium oxalate, an irritant deactivated by heat.
  • Add a touch of romance to your garden or patio with a wire basket, canning jars tea lights, and crystals.
  • If you look at sugar under a microscope you see why they are called sugar crystals.
  • Nearly transparent, slightly yellow crystals are feldspars.
  • Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, washing any sugar crystals down side of pan with a pastry brush dipped in cold water.
  • Instead, dip a pastry brush in cold water and swipe the sides of the pot to get rid of hanging crystals.
  • They can routinely grow crystals that are several carats in size.
  • As the cell structure itself broke down, crystals formed in those spaces as well.
British Dictionary definitions for crystals

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
10.
resembling crystal; transparent: crystal water
Word Origin
Old English cristalla, from Latin crystallum, from Greek krustallos ice, crystal, from krustainein to freeze
Word Origin and History for crystals

crystal

n.

Old English cristal "clear ice, clear mineral," from Old French cristal (12c., Modern French crystal), from Latin crystallus "crystal, ice," from Greek krystallos, from kryos "frost," from PIE root *kru(s)- "hard, hard outer surface" (see crust). Spelling adopted the Latin form 15c.-17c. The mineral has been so-called since Old English; it was regarded by the ancients as a sort of fossilized ice. As a shortened form of crystal-glass it dates from 1590s. As an adjective, from late 14c.

crystals in Medicine

crystal crys·tal (krĭs'təl)
n.

  1. A homogenous solid formed by a repeating, three-dimensional pattern of atoms, ions, or molecules and having fixed distances between constituent parts.

  2. A mineral, especially a transparent form of quartz that has a crystalline structure and is often characterized by external planar faces.

crystals in Science
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. ◇ 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.

    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.


crystalline adjective
crystals in Culture

crystal definition


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.

Note: Most minerals are crystalline structures.
Slang definitions & phrases for crystals

crystal

noun

Narcotics in powdered form, esp amphetamines; speed (1960s+ Narcotics)


crystals in the Bible

(Ezek. 1:22, with the epithet "terrible," as dazzling the spectators with its brightness). The word occurs in Rev. 4:6; 21:11; 22:1. It is a stone of the flint order, the most refined kind of quartz. The Greek word here used means also literally "ice." The ancients regarded the crystal as only pure water congealed into extreme hardness by great length of time.