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

“The sale of the food-delivery operations in Taiwan enables the company to crystallize considerable fundamental value for its shareholders.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

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 • Jan. 21, 2026

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

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 3, 2025

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 • Oct. 17, 2025

She felt them gathering their strength inside her, felt each passing second crystallize into a map of strategic striking points wrapping around Wick’s body.

From "Shadowshaper" by Daniel José Older