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

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

Examples of crystalline in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

The hotel offers perhaps the best views of the area's famed colorful houses lining the hillside along with the crystalline sea below. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 8 May 2024

Along with her wavy, platinum-blonde tresses, Karol G evoked Blanchett in The Lord of the Rings films with a crystalline crown, which perfectly complemented her gown’s crystalline details. —Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 7 May 2024

Image Johnson considered the 1,728-square-foot Glass House and its 860-square-foot brick companion, which was built at the same time, two parts of a single home — one alluringly crystalline, the other introverted and opaque. —Suleman Anaya, New York Times, 3 May 2024

Wednesday’s hearing by the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic was a crystalline example of the genre. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2024

As the pièce de résistance, makeup artist Jenna Kristina added sparkling, crystalline tear drops below Fox's lower lashline. —Kara Nesvig, Allure, 25 Apr. 2024

On this trip, Belmond promises excursions to snorkel in the crystalline waters, plenty of time to explore the islands, and even cultural tours so guests feel more informed of their surroundings. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 22 Apr. 2024

At higher densities, though, the crystalline phase gave way to an electron liquid. —Isaac Schultz / Gizmodo, Quartz, 12 Apr. 2024

The team connected eight tiny (1.5 by 1.5 by 0.1 millimeters) rigid crystalline cells and encapsulated them in a polymer to make a flexible photovoltaic system. —IEEE Spectrum, 1 Apr. 2024

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

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