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.

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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

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Other Word Forms

• crystallizability noun
• crystallizable adjective
• crystallization noun
• crystallizer noun
• noncrystallizable adjective
• noncrystallized adjective
• noncrystallizing adjective
• uncrystallizable adjective
• uncrystallized adjective

Etymology

Origin of crystallize

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

Example Sentences

His reputation has been crystallized through public views he’s expressed ever since.

From MarketWatch

Then this past week, when Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called a snap election with a promise to cut taxes, she crystallized fears that Japan’s already massive debt will become unsustainable.

From The Wall Street Journal

Bond markets are said to be a daily referendum on the government, as their moves crystallize the impact of fiscal, monetary, domestic, and foreign policies into a series of tradable data points.

From Barron's

Outlook statements from the wave of earnings reports expected over the next two weeks will crystallize that view.

From Barron's

It was also where my youthful hostility toward Martin Luther King Jr. crystallized.

From The Wall Street Journal