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• crystal
  crystal

  noun

  a clear, transparent mineral or glass resembling ice.
• Crystal
  Crystal

  noun

  a city in SE Minnesota, near Minneapolis.

crystal

¹ American  

[kris-tl] / ˈkrɪs tl /

noun

• crystals
  plural

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.

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adjective

1. composed of crystal.

2. resembling crystal; clear; transparent.

3. Radio. pertaining to or employing a crystal detector.

4. indicating the fifteenth event of a series, as a wedding anniversary.

verb (used with object)

crystaled, crystaling, crystalled, crystalling

1. to make into crystal; crystallize.

2. to cover or coat with, or as if with, crystal (usually followed byover ).

Crystal ² American  

[kris-tl] / ˈkrɪs tl /

noun

1. a city in SE Minnesota, near Minneapolis.

2. a female given name.

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crystal British  

/ 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

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adjective

1. resembling crystal; transparent

   crystal water

crystal Scientific  

/ 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.

2. ◆ 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.

3. 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.

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crystal Cultural  

1. 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.

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Discover More

Most minerals are crystalline structures.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• crystallike
  adjective
• uncrystaled
  adjective
• uncrystalled
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• crystals
  plural

Etymology

Origin of crystal

First recorded before 1000; Middle English cristal(le), Old English cristalla, from Medieval Latin cristallum, Latin crystallum, from Greek krýstallos “clear ice, rock crystal,” derivative of krystaínein “to freeze”; akin to krȳmós “frost, cold” ( see crymotherapy), krýos “cold, frost” ( see cryo-)

Explanation

Various solid substances that glitter because their surfaces are made up of planes that catch the light are called crystals. If you leave your ice cream in the freezer too long, you may find a coating of ice crystals on top. Some people think that certain natural crystals — quartz, for instance — have mystical properties and if you wear them or hold them, they cure whatever’s wrong with you. Crystal is also the word for transparent glass made of silica, and it's also a name for fine glassware — the kind that reverberates with a nice ping when you flick your fingernail against it. Another kind of crystal is the glass cover that protects the face of your watch.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

crystal Crystal crystals crystaled crystalled

“I made it crystal clear: The second the fund is no longer independent, Helmsley is out,” Panzirer said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

"I'm crystal ball gazing and can do it reasonably well on a good day, but nowhere near with the clarity of the nanopore, which gives a comprehensive molecular classification," he said.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

The researchers used a detector built around a coffee-mug-sized piece of high-purity germanium crystal, protected by additional layers of copper and lead.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 21, 2026

If you have a crystal ball that will tell me I will need memory care in old age, please share.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026

He folded his hands and pleaded in a little girl’s voice: “‘Old Timothy, please, look in your crystal ball and tell me: How will it all turn out?’

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

They had only guaranteed safety in the previous campaign by coming from two goals down to beat Crystal Palace in their penultimate game on a night of thunderous sporting theatre at Goodison Park.

From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026

The footage was shot in Crystal Cove, according to the news station.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026

In October 2011, Crystal Kelley signed a contract to bear a baby for a couple in Connecticut, where she also lived.

From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026

After his £21.5m move to Inter Milan fell through, Crystal Palace saw off competition from Nottingham Forest to pick him up for a similar fee from Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

“I thought I told you I didn’t need your pity,” Crystal is saying.

From "The Benefits of Being an Octopus" by Ann Braden

"These small crystals allow us to go back in time and learn about the major changes to Earth's ancient landscapes," Stockli said.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 4, 2026

Parisi traveled to Oklahoma to obtain the Ames rock core from the Oklahoma Geological Survey, extracted zircon crystals from the material, and helped determine their ages.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 4, 2026

Salt crystals used to treat the garments were also reproduced on jackets and brooches.

From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026

The crystals and lamé of their outfits played with the light from the disco ball hanging from the ceiling.

From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026

The room is small but the ceiling is high, a golden chandelier draped with crystals suspended in the center.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

A shining god raised me, and bade my fears Be flown, and I beheld the glorious throne Of crystaled light; with rays by man unknown.

From Babylonian and Assyrian Literature by Anonymous

“The house was crystalled out,” she told Vogue, but she didn’t want visitors to think she was a “crystal person”.

From The Guardian ● Jun. 16, 2019

She imagined that across these richly carved entrance-ways, where the globed and crystalled lamps shone upon panelled doors set with stained and designed panes of glass, was neither care nor unsatisfied desire.

From Sister Carrie: a Novel by Theodore Dreiser

Now I ascended, or again descended the dropping and crystalled rocks; now crept into openings, which suddenly terminated, and turning again, anxiously listened to the sound of the rippling water as my only guide.

From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Volume 13 by Various

The frozen moisture of its breathing had settled on its fur in a fine powder of frost, and especially were its jowls, muzzle, and eyelashes whitened by its crystalled breath. 

From Lost Face by Jack London

She imagined that across these richly carved entrance-ways, where the globed and crystalled lamps shone upon paneled doors set with stained and designed panes of glass, was neither care nor unsatisfied desire.

From Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser