crystalline

adjective

crys·​tal·​line ˈkri-stə-lən How to pronounce crystalline (audio)
 also  -ˌlīn,
-ˌlēn
1
: resembling crystal: such as
a
: strikingly clear or sparkling
crystalline air
a crystalline lake
b
2
: made of crystal : composed of crystals
3
: constituting or relating to a crystal
crystallinity noun

Examples of crystalline in a Sentence

we could see fish swimming beneath the crystalline ice of the frozen lake
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
This idyllic south coast stretch features bright white sand that meets crystalline waters, against the backdrop of the majestic Morne Mountain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rooksana Hossenally, Forbes, 19 Oct. 2024 Amorphous silicon dioxide commonly occurs in foods and supplements, while crystalline silicon dioxide is generally found in industrial settings. Brittany Lubeck, Ms, Rdn, Verywell Health, 19 Sep. 2024 Joaquin Phoenix, reprising his Oscar-winning performance from the controversial 2019 movie, croaks his way through a selection of standards in a voice that may remind you of the late Joe Cocker or the sound of glass being churned into little crystalline bits in the garbage disposal. Tom Gliatto, People.com, 3 Oct. 2024 On the ground around Tubac, between Tucson and Nogales, there’s a healthy cottonwood forest watered by a slender ribbon of crystalline water. Shaun McKinnon, The Arizona Republic, 30 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for crystalline 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of crystalline was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near crystalline

Cite this Entry

“Crystalline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crystalline. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

crystalline

adjective
crys·​tal·​line ˈkris-tə-lən How to pronounce crystalline (audio)
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 noun
plural crystallinities

More from Merriam-Webster on crystalline

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!