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

Polymers, which are long chains of repeating molecular units, often do not crystallize by simply adding one chain at a time.

From Science Daily

If uric acid levels rise too much, it can crystallize in the joints and kidneys, causing gout, kidney disease and a number of related conditions.

From Science Daily

No case has crystallized those tensions quite like that of Washington D.C.’s internet-famous sandwich thrower, whose trial began Tuesday and gave jurors this to chew on: Does throwing fast food at an officer constitute assault?

From The Wall Street Journal

Where last year’s parade day felt more like an overdue coronation, this one served to crystallize their legacy.

From Los Angeles Times

To create this structure, the researchers heated a metastable form of sodium hydridoborate until it began to crystallize, then cooled it rapidly to lock the structure in place.

From Science Daily