crystalline

play

adjective crys·tal·line \ ˈkri-stə-lən also -ˌlīn , -ˌlēn \

Definition of crystalline

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

play \ˌkri-stə-ˈli-nə-tē\ noun

See crystalline defined for English-language learners

See crystalline defined for kids

Examples of crystalline in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of crystalline from the Web

The main difference, Wade is quick to add, is that while these new Caribbean bungalows are set in very clear bays, their waters don't compare with the crystalline lagoons of the South Pacific or the Maldives.

— barbara noe kennedy, chicagotribune.com, "The tropical overwater bungalow turns 50," 30 Aug. 2017
Solid-state technology, in simple terms, replaces the liquid or gel electrolyte between electrodes with a solid, crystalline electrolyte.

— bengt halvorson, Car and Driver, "Toyota Teases Solid-State Battery Breakthrough; Elon Musk Skeptical," 23 Aug. 2017
Here, its headwaters are crystalline and unspoiled.

— michael holtz, The Christian Science Monitor, "Following damage caused by economic rise, China tackles ambitious conservation experiment," 20 Aug. 2017
Inside, the eight-story atrium blossoms with crystalline light, reflecting off triangular metal fins hanging from the ceiling.

— matt schudel, Washington Post, "Gunnar Birkerts, who brought light and elegance to his architecture, dies at 92," 19 Aug. 2017
As in 50 degrees or less, with anything from crystalline blue to murky brown in the mix.

— peter reese, Popular Mechanics, "Five Things to Know Before Running a Wild River," 11 Aug. 2017
On the southern edge of Gaza City the crystalline blue Mediterranean is being transmuted into a vast, bobbing pool of raw sewage, the product of half a million people with nowhere else for their effluent to flow.

— The Economist, "Hamastan at 10Hamas marks ten years of misruling Gaza," 13 July 2017
The vanilla-speckled crème brûlée is another study in contrasts with a shatteringly crystalline top and creamy custard, while another classic, the tart fine, is prepared as perfectly as an origami angel with see-through sheaves of tart apples.

— victoria pesce elliott, miamiherald, "La Petite Maison is a grand example of clean French cooking," 10 July 2017
The song, which was released via Steve Aoki’s Dim Mak Records, features crystalline production dancing beneath the smooth, intimate sound of MAX's voice.

— sadie bell, Billboard, "MAX Asks His Lover 'Do You Still Feel?' on Electronic Song With Rain Man: Exclusive," 23 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'crystalline.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of crystalline

Middle English cristallin, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin crystallinus, from Greek krystallinos, from krystallos

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

crystalline Synonyms

Synonyms

crystal, crystal clear, clear, limpid, liquid, lucent, pellucid, see-through, transparent

Antonyms

cloudy, opaque

Related Words

colorless, uncolored; diaphanous, lucid, semitranslucent, semitransparent, sheer, translucent, transparentized; glassy, vitreous

Near Antonyms

colored, dark, glazed, tinted; filmy, foggy, hazy, misty, nebulous, smoky (also smokey); dense, muddy, murky, turbid

CRYSTALLINE Defined for English Language Learners

crystalline

play

adjective

Definition of crystalline for English Language Learners

: clear and shining like crystal
: made of or similar to crystal or crystals

CRYSTALLINE Defined for Kids

crystalline

play

adjective crys·tal·line \ ˈkri-stə-lən \

Definition of crystalline for Students

1 :made of crystal or composed of crystals

2 :¹clear 4

Medical Dictionary

crystalline

adjective crys·tal·line \ ˈkris-tə-lən also -ˌlīn, -ˌlēn \

medical Definition of crystalline

1 :composed of or resembling crystals

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

play \ˌkris-tə-ˈlin-ət-ē\ noun plural -ties

Learn More about crystalline

See words that rhyme with crystalline Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for crystalline Spanish Central: Translation of crystalline Nglish: Translation of crystalline for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of crystalline for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up crystalline? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

crystalline

Definition of crystalline

crystallinity

Explore M-W

Examples of crystalline in a Sentence

Recent Examples of crystalline from the Web

Origin and Etymology of crystalline

crystalline Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

CRYSTALLINE Defined for English Language Learners

crystalline

Definition of crystalline for English Language Learners

CRYSTALLINE Defined for Kids

crystalline

Definition of crystalline for Students

Medical Dictionary

crystalline

medical Definition of crystalline

crystallinity

Learn More about crystalline

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Breathing Life Into 'Inspire'

Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'

These Are Fighting Words

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Words of the Year: 1066