crystallize
English edit
Alternative forms edit
- crystalize
- (non-Oxford British spelling) crystallise, crystalise
Etymology edit
Pronunciation edit
Verb edit
crystallize (third-person singular simple present crystallizes, present participle crystallizing, simple past and past participle crystallized)
- (transitive) (chemistry, physics) to make something form into crystals
- I crystallized the copper sulfate by slowly cooling a saturated solution.
- (intransitive) to assume a crystalline form
- The copper sulphate crystallized from solution.
- (transitive) to give something a definite or precise form
- After some thought, I crystallized my ideas for the paper.
- (intransitive) to take a definite form
- My ideas crystallized overnight.
- 1957, Patrick White, chapter 12, in Voss:
- The situation did crystallize, if painfully, under the stars, and by morning each knew what he must confess.
- (transitive) to coat something with crystals, especially with sugar
- We crystallized the fruit by coating in sugar.
Derived terms edit
Related terms edit
Translations edit
to make something form into crystals
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to assume a crystalline form
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to give a precise form
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take a definite form
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to coat with crystals
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