crystallite

[ kris-tl-ahyt ]

noun

, Mineralogy.

1. a minute body in glassy igneous rock, showing incipient crystallization.

crystallite

/ ˌkrɪstəˈlɪtɪk; ˈkrɪstəˌlaɪt /

noun

1. any of the minute rudimentary or imperfect crystals occurring in many glassy rocks

Derived Forms

• crystallitic, adjective

Other Words From

• crys·tal·lit·ic [kris-tl-, it, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of crystallite¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; crystall- + -ite ¹