crystalline

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

Synonyms of crystalline

• crystal
• transparent
• liquid
• clear

Examples of crystalline in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Quartz is a crystalline mineral that is used in everything from jewelry and glass to countertops and electronics. —Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 12 Mar. 2026

This is may be more of a drama than a typical thriller, but the specifics of it are so crystalline that each scene holds you in tremendous suspense. —Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Mar. 2026

Unlike traditional steel, which has a crystalline atomic structure, amorphous steel has a disordered atomic arrangement. —Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 9 Mar. 2026

Sea Green, Blue Turquoise, and Coral echo sunlit coastlines, crystalline waters, and long summer afternoons. —Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 26 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing crystalline

• crystalline lens

Rhymes for crystalline

• acridine
• alkaline
• andesine
• anodyne
• anticline
• arginine
• asinine
• atropine
• benzidine
• borderline
• byzantine
• calamine

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