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crystallize

American  
[kris-tl-ahyz] / ˈkrɪs tlˌaɪz /
especially British, crystallise

verb (used with object)

crystallized, crystallizing
  1. to form into crystals; cause to assume crystalline form.

  2. to give definite or concrete form to.

    to crystallize an idea.

  3. to coat with sugar.


verb (used without object)

crystallized, crystallizing
  1. to form crystals; become crystalline in form.

  2. to assume definite or concrete form.

crystallize British  
/ ˈkrɪstəˌlaɪz /

verb

  1. to form or cause to form crystals; assume or cause to assume a crystalline form or structure

  2. to coat or become coated with sugar

    crystallized fruit

  3. to give a definite form or expression to (an idea, argument, etc) or (of an idea, argument, etc) to assume a recognizable or definite form

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of crystallize

First recorded in 1590–1600; crystall- + -ize

Vocabulary lists containing crystallize

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But when her song "Crystallize" racked up 90 million views on YouTube, the music establishment was forced to figure out what it should make of the 27-year-old: reality-television reject, classical revivalist or indie act?

From Washington Post

Crystallize an epoch in an individual, and you offer individuals the hope of transcending their epoch.

From Time Magazine Archive