English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

From Middle English cristallyn, cristallyne, from Old French cristallin, from Latin crystallinus, from Ancient Greek κρυστάλλινος (krustállinos), from κρύσταλλος (krústallos, crystal).

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ˈkɹɪs.tə.lɪn/, /ˈkɹɪs.təˌlaɪn/, /ˈkɹɪs.təˌliːn/
  • (file)

Adjective edit

crystalline (comparative more crystalline, superlative most crystalline)

  1. Of, relating to, or composed of crystals.
    Synonym: crystal
  2. (chemistry) Having a regular three-dimensional molecular structure.
  3. Resembling crystal in being clear and transparent.
    • 1769, Firishta, translated by Alexander Dow, Tales translated from the Persian of Inatulla of Delhi, volume I, Dublin: P. and W. Wilson et al., page iii:
      There the roſy-finger'd Spring, by the liquid mirror of a cryſtalline pool, was attiring her fair daughters in ſeven-fold ornaments, while the love-whiſpering breezes ſtole kiſſes as they paſſed, and fanned their glowing beauties.
  4. Pure.
    • 2020 August 7, Jonathan Liew, “Phil Foden stars to offer Manchester City glimpse of multiple futures”, in The Guardian[1]:
      not in his favoured midfield role, either but as a false No 9: the sort of role Guardiola only hands to his chosen, crystalline few: Mario Götze at Bayern Munich (less successfully), Lionel Messi at Barcelona (a little more so).

Antonyms edit

Derived terms edit

Translations edit

Noun edit

crystalline (plural crystallines)

  1. (obsolete) Any crystalline substance.
  2. (obsolete) aniline

Latin edit

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

crystalline

  1. vocative masculine singular of crystallinus