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crystal

crystal

61 3.6
A solid with atoms in a regular repeating pattern that forms geometric shapes
  • noun
  • /ˈkrɪstl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : cristal
  • This crystal, like all crystals, must obey Bragg's law.
  • crystal structure
  • atoms in a crystal
  • crystal growth

So crushed cinnamon, sugar crystals and homemade doughnut.

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Examples

  • The geologist examined the stunning quartz crystal that had formed over thousands of years.

  • This is a smoky quartz crystal.

  • You can see areas of perfect crystal and order, right?

  • Okay, everybody, the crystal has to be here somewhere.

  • But pulling this crystal from the Earth was so special.

  • And this is how many atoms I have in the crystal, right?

  • It's basically a giant crystal of salt.

  • The forest was lush, the river ran crystal clear.

  • This is a mixed crystal of gypsum halide.

  • Actual snow falls because ice crystals form around specks of dust, as do raindrops.

    Fiction book (1991)

Antonyms

noncrystalline
  • Specialized
8.5

A material that does not have a regular internal pattern, like glass

amorph
  • Specialized
9.9

A solid that has no regular internal pattern, like glass

Idioms

8.6

Very clear and easy to understand

Compounds

crystal clear
  • Informal
43 2.5

Very easy to understand or hear

28 6.9

A glass sphere fortune-tellers look into to see the future

21 8.6

An illegal, very strong drug in clear crystals that makes people very awake and active

Completely see-through so you can easily see inside

4 2.8

A small piece of frozen water that forms in clouds, snow, or frost

liquid crystal
  • Specialized
3 4.5

A material that flows like a liquid but has a solid-like internal pattern used in screens

1 3.7

A thin flat electronic screen like on watches, phones, and TVs that shows pictures

crystal lattice
  • Specialized
1 7.0

A regular three-dimensional pattern of atoms, molecules, or ions inside a solid

quartz crystal
  • Specialized
1 5.1

A small clear stone cut to make a steady electrical signal for clocks and radios

rock crystal
  • Specialized
1 4.9

A clear, colorless mineral used to make lenses and in some electronics

piezoelectric crystal
  • Specialized
1 7.5

A crystal that makes electricity when pressed or bent

A clear cover that protects the face of a watch

9.8

A simple radio part that uses a crystal and wire to turn signals into sound

An act of looking into a crystal ball to try to see the future or distant events

6.2

A device for recording or sending voices that uses a small crystal to change sound into an electrical signal

crystal mike
  • Archaic
9.7

A microphone that uses a small crystal to turn sound into electric signals

crystal oscillator
  • Specialized
6.9

An electronic device that makes a very steady electrical signal at one frequency using a small quartz crystal

crystal pickup
  • Archaic
9.9

A small part in a record player that uses a crystal to make electric signals from the needle's movement

7.9

A small electronic device that changes alternating current into direct current

crystal set
  • Archaic
8.9

A simple early radio that uses a crystal to receive signals without a battery

crystal tea
  • Archaic
9.9

A small evergreen shrub with white bell-shaped flowers whose leaves were used to make tea during the American Revolution

crystal violet
  • Specialized
7.0

A dark purple dye used to colour cells for microscopes and to help stop infection

Predicting the future by looking into a crystal ball or guessing about the future without real proof

crystal counter
  • Archaic
9.9

A device that detects radiation when particles hit a crystal

How Big

urinary calculus
  • Specialized
7.2
gravel
99 1.4
crystal
  • Specialized
61 3.6
sand
485 1.0

Surface Forms

crystal singular
crystals plural

Etymology

Crystal comes from the Greek krystallos meaning 'ice', as people long ago thought clear stones were frozen water. Today we call things like diamonds, salt, and snowflakes crystals because they form regular, repeating shapes inside, like nature's neat patterns.