crys·tal (kr s t l)n.1. a. A homogenous solid formed by a repeating, three-dimensional pattern of atoms, ions, or molecules and having fixed distances between constituent parts. b. The unit cell of such a pattern. 2. A mineral, especially a transparent form of quartz, having a crystalline structure, often characterized by external planar faces. 3. a. A natural or synthetic crystalline material having piezoelectric or semiconducting properties. b. An electronic device, such as an oscillator or detector, using such a material. 4. a. A high-quality, clear, colorless glass. b. An object, especially a vessel or ornament, made of such glass. c. Such objects considered as a group. 5. A clear glass or plastic protective cover for the face of a watch or clock. 6. Slang A stimulant drug, usually methamphetamine, in its powdered form. adj. Clear or transparent: a crystal lake; the crystal clarity of their reasoning.
[Middle English cristal, from Old French, from Latin crystallum, from Greek krustallos, ice, crystal; see kreus- in Indo-European roots.] |
crystal Noun 1. a solid with a regular internal structure and symmetrical arrangement of faces 2. a single grain of a crystalline substance 3. a very clear and brilliant glass 4. something made of crystal 5. crystal glass articles collectively 6. Electronics a crystalline element used in certain electronic devices, such as a detector or oscillator Adjective bright and clear: the crystal waters of the pool [Greek krustallos ice, crystal]
crystal (krstl)1. A homogenous solid formed by a repeating, three-dimensional pattern of atoms, ions, or molecules and having smooth external surfaces with characteristic angles between them. Crystals can occur in many sizes and shapes.  The particular arrangement in space of these atoms, molecules, or ions, and the way in which they are joined, is called a crystal lattice. There are seven crystal groups or systems. Each is defined on the basis of the geometrical arrangement of the crystal lattice. 2. a. A natural or synthetic material, such as quartz or ceramic, that consists of such crystals. When subjected to mechanical stresses, crystalline materials can generate an electric charge or, when subjected to an electric field, they can generate mechanical vibrations in what is known as the piezoelectric effect. b. An electrical device, such as an oscillator or a diode used for detecting radio signals, made of such a material.
crystalline adjective | crystal Crystal lattice systems (clockwise from top left): triclinic, orthorhombic, monoclinic, tetragonal, hexagonal, trigonal, and cubic. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms | Noun | 1. |  crystal - a solid formed by the solidification of a chemical and having a highly regular atomic structuregemstone, gem, stone - a crystalline rock that can be cut and polished for jewelry; "he had the gem set in a ring for his wife"; "she had jewels made of all the rarest stones" twins - (mineralogy) two interwoven crystals that are mirror images on each other ice, water ice - water frozen in the solid state; "Americans like ice in their drinks" solid - matter that is solid at room temperature and pressure | | 2. | crystal - a crystalline element used as a component in various electronic devicesconstituent, element, component - an artifact that is one of the individual parts of which a composite entity is made up; especially a part that can be separated from or attached to a system; "spare components for cars"; "a component or constituent element of a system" crystal counter - a counter tube in which an ionizing event increases conductivity crystal detector - a detector consisting of a fine wire in contact with a galena crystal; acts as a rectifier crystal microphone - a microphone in which sound waves vibrate a piezoelectric crystal that generates a varying voltage crystal pickup - a cartridge in which an output voltage is produced by the vibration of a piezoelectric crystal | | 3. | crystal - a rock formed by the solidification of a substance; has regularly repeating internal structure; external plane facescrystallite - any of numerous minute rudimentary crystalline bodies of unknown composition found in glassy igneous rock rock, stone - a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter; "he threw a rock at me" | | 4. |  crystal - colorless glass made of almost pure silicanatural glass - magma of any composition that cooled very rapidly silica, silicon dioxide, silicon oxide - a white or colorless vitreous insoluble solid (SiO2); various forms occur widely in the earth's crust as quartz or cristobalite or tridymite or lechatelierite | | 5. | crystal - glassware made of quartz | | 6. | crystal - a protective cover that protects the face of a watch |
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