crystallize

verb

crys·​tal·​lize ˈkri-stə-ˌlīz 

variants or less commonly crystalize

crystallized; crystallizing

transitive verb

1

: to cause to form crystals or assume crystalline form

2

: to cause to take a definite form

tried to crystallize his thoughts

3

: to coat with crystals especially of sugar

crystallize grapes

intransitive verb

: to become crystallized

crystallizable

ˈkri-stə-ˌlī-zə-bəl 

ˌkri-stə-ˈlī-

adjective

crystallization

ˌkri-stə-li-ˈzā-shən 

noun

crystallizer noun

Synonyms

• form
• jell
• shape (up)
• solidify

Examples of crystallize in a Sentence

Eventually the paint will start to crystallize.

Certain conditions can cause carbon to crystallize into diamonds.

Certain conditions can crystallize carbon into diamonds.

The final paragraph of the essay crystallizes her theory.

He tried to crystallize his thoughts.

Her theory crystallizes in the final paragraph of the essay.

Recent Examples on the Web

Stories have mingled love and magic for centuries, but the portmanteau crystallized as a market category during the pandemic. —Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025

But losses to the Chargers and Bengals, whose top receiving weapons gave Denver fits, crystallized Denver’s need for more help around Nix. —Nick Kosmider, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025

Her memoir crystallizes a moment in internet culture when the possibilities of the social web were just beginning to sour. —Amanda Hess, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024

Now that Rickey is 50, the image of him as a once-in-a-generation player crystallizes far more quickly than those of Rickey the disgruntled ballplayer. —Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, 21 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

crystal entry 1 + -ize

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

crystallize

verb

crys·​tal·​lize ˈkris-tə-ˌlīz 

crystallized; crystallizing

1

a

: to cause to form crystals or assume crystalline form

b

: to become crystallized

2

: to take or cause to take definite form

the plan crystallized slowly

crystallization

ˌkris-tə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

crystallize

verb

crys·​tal·​lize

variants also crystalize also British crystallise or crystalise

ˈkris-tə-ˌlīz 

crystallized also crystallized also British crystallised or crystallised; crystallizing also crystallizing also British crystallising or crystallising

transitive verb

: to cause to form crystals or assume crystalline form

especially : to cause to form perfect or large crystals

intransitive verb

: to become crystallized

—often used with out

the solid crystallized out

crystallizable

-ˌlī-zə-bəl 

adjective