crystalline

1 of 2

adjective

crys·​tal·​line ˈkri-stə-lən 

also -ˌlīn, 

-ˌlēn

1

: resembling crystal: such as

a

: strikingly clear or sparkling

crystalline air

a crystalline lake

b

: clear-cut

2

: made of crystal : composed of crystals

3

: constituting or relating to a crystal

crystallinity

ˌkri-stə-ˈli-nə-tē 

noun

crystallinity

2 of 2

noun

crys·​tal·​lin·​i·​ty ˌkri-stə-ˈli-nə-tē 

plural -es

: the quality or state of being crystalline : degree of crystallization

Synonyms of crystalline

Adjective

• crystal
• transparent
• liquid
• clear

Examples of crystalline in a Sentence

Adjective

we could see fish swimming beneath the crystalline ice of the frozen lake

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

From every theoretical point of view, Dovner was transforming the Soviet system, which had been conceived as something of perfect, crystalline purity. — Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2026

The three-stage process increased the amount of crystalline material while the nanotubes helped orient those crystals. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2026

Kitch-iti-kipi gets its crystalline water straight from the earth—more than 10,000 gallons of it every minute. — Savannah Born, Travel + Leisure, 17 Sep. 2026

Another image showed clear plastic bags containing a crystalline substance authorities identified as methamphetamine. — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English cristallin, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin crystallinus, borrowed from Greek krystállinos, from krýstallos "clear ice, crystal entry 1" + -inos -ine entry 1

Noun

International Scientific Vocabulary crystalline + -ity

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1856, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing crystalline

• crystalline lens

Rhymes for crystalline

• alkaline
• andesine
• anodyne
• anticline
• arginine
• asinine
• benzidine
• borderline
• byzantine
• calamine
• caroline
• centerline

Kids Definition

crystalline

adjective

crys·​tal·​line ˈkris-tə-lən 

1

: clear or sparkling like crystal

crystalline drops of honey

2

: made of crystal or crystals

3

: of or relating to a crystal

Medical Definition

crystalline

adjective

crys·​tal·​line

ˈkris-tə-lən also -ˌlīn, -ˌlēn

1

: composed of or resembling crystals

2

a

: formed by crystallization : having regular arrangement of the atoms in a space lattice see amorphous sense 2

b

: having the internal structure though not necessarily the external form of a crystal

granite is only crystalline, while quartz crystal is perfectly crystallized

crystallinity

ˌkris-tə-ˈlin-ət-ē 

noun

plural crystallinities