crystalline

adjective

crys·​tal·​line ˈkri-stə-lən How to pronounce crystalline (audio)
also -ˌlīn, 
-ˌlēn
Synonyms of crystallinenext
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 How to pronounce crystalline (audio)
noun

Synonyms of crystalline

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Examples of crystalline in a Sentence

we could see fish swimming beneath the crystalline ice of the frozen lake
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Clouds gathered and the crystalline blue broke often for ominous gray. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2026 This process, which generates perfectly crystalline silicon ingots to be sliced like fragile metallic salamis into thin wafers, is entrusted largely to one firm in Taiwan and two in Japan. — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026 Developed by a team of scientists at the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), the fabric combines a base of regular cotton with layers of chitosan and a crystalline chemical compound known as cyanoguanidine. — New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2026 That slight sense of unease, coupled with Faith’s crystalline country voice and boundary-pushing songwriting, is at the core of her record Cherry Valley (and the recent deluxe version, Cherry Valley Forever). — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2026 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

Phrases Containing crystalline

Rhymes for crystalline

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Browse Nearby Words

crystalligerous
crystalline
crystalline cone
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Cite this Entry

“Crystalline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crystalline. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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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
ˌkris-tə-ˈlin-ət-ē How to pronounce crystalline (audio)
noun
plural crystallinities
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