recrystallize

verb

re·​crys·​tal·​lize (ˌ)rē-ˈkri-stə-ˌlīz 

recrystallized; recrystallizing; recrystallizes

transitive + intransitive

: to crystallize again or repeatedly

In a second step, GE's long-established high-pressure technology … was used to dissolve and recrystallize a cluster [of tiny diamonds] into a single gem.

—Lapidary Journal

… the meteorite does show hints in some places of having melted and recrystallized, which could indicate more about the conditions under which it was knocked off from its parent body.

—Alexandra Witze

recrystallization

(ˌ)rē-ˌkri-stə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

plural recrystallizations

Examples of recrystallize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This internal pressure eventually forces the microstructure to recrystallize on its own, spawning fresh, dramatically finer grains from within. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2026

When cracks form, water dissolves calcium-rich material from the clasts, which then recrystallizes as calcium carbonate, sealing the fracture. — Sam MacDonald, Scientific American, 11 July 2026

These cracks were filled by the lime clasts that reacted with salt or rainwater to recrystallize. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 July 2026

This is because bread contains starches that recrystallize at lower temperatures, leading to a dry, hard texture. — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 24 May 2026

That solution can either recrystallize as calcium carbonate to fill the cracks or react with the pozzolanic components to strengthen the composite material. — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 19 Apr. 2023

In other words, these small lime-clast chunks can react with water, post-mixing, to recrystallize as calcium carbonate, and fill cracks while reacting with the ash for further strength. — Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 3 Feb. 2023

These shifts caused the gypsum minerals to dissolve and recrystallize over time. — Alex Orlando, Discover Magazine, 23 Oct. 2019

After burial, the minute shells may recrystallize or dissolve unless they are protected by mud that blocks the flow of water, and the ones that survive as fossils are highly valuable to paleontologists because of their unaltered biominerals. — Anna K. Behrensmeyer, Smithsonian, 8 June 2019

Word History

First Known Use

1724, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for recrystallize

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize

Kids Definition

recrystallize

verb

re·​crys·​tal·​lize (ˈ)rē-ˈkris-tə-ˌlīz 

: to form or cause to form crystals after being dissolved or melted

recrystallization

(ˌ)rē-ˌkris-tə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

recrystallize

verb

re·​crys·​tal·​lize

variants also British recrystallise

(ˈ)rē-ˈkris-tə-ˌlīz 

recrystallized also British recrystallised; recrystallizing also British recrystallising

: to crystallize again or repeatedly

recrystallization noun

also British recrystallisation

(ˌ)rē-ˌkris-tə-lə-ˈzā-shən