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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 always end up picking up a crystal too.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

What makes you think you have a better crystal ball than full-time traders with collectively trillions of dollars at stake?

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026

"She separated the three crystal types, which themselves differed in transparency, symmetry, and luster, from all the pebbles. This ability to recognize crystals despite their differences amazed us," García-Ruiz said.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 15, 2026

"It's crystal clear: The language of the act provides the president power to create national monuments," Thomas Delehanty, a lawyer for Earthjustice, told AFP.

From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026

“Be careful,” Seed Collector said, extending the crystal fire so that Nathan could see his footing and how far below the ground was.

From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young

In May, Crystal River’s Facebook page posted a photo of Salute posing between two teens at a local high school graduation ceremony.

From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026

Her post included a mug shot of the now-leader of the Crystal River school in an orange jumpsuit.

From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026

Supporters have welcomed the chance to bring the dilapidated complex back to life, with one describing it as "the beating heart of Crystal Palace, much loved and used".

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

The club have explored a number of defensive options, including holding talks over Crystal Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix and showing interest in former Manchester City defender John Stones and Como's Jacobo Ramon.

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

Dylan shakes out his hands and touches the Crystal Ball with just the tips of his fingers.

From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston

Nearby, a handmade chandelier by artist Helen Stickler, decorated with vintage Swarovski crystals and beads, adds to what Weger describes as her “Candyland vibe.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026

Bring on the crystals and woo-woo singing bowls.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026

What makes this behavior so intriguing is that the crystals were not used as tools, weapons, or jewelry.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 15, 2026

She carried both pebbles and crystals in her mouth to a wooden platform, where she sorted them into separate groups.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 15, 2026

You know how Superman becomes weak at the sight of those shiny green crystals?

From "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind" by William Kamkwamba

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

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 London, Jack

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

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 Dreiser, Theodore

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 Dreiser, Theodore