crystal

1 of 2

noun

crys·​tal ˈkri-stᵊl How to pronounce crystal (audio)
Synonyms of crystalnext
1
: quartz that is transparent or nearly so and that is either colorless or only slightly tinged
2
: something resembling crystal in transparency and colorlessness
3
: a body that is formed by the solidification of a chemical element, a compound, or a mixture and has a regularly repeating internal arrangement of its atoms and often external plane faces
4
: a clear colorless glass of superior quality
also : objects or ware of such glass
5
: the glass or transparent plastic cover over a watch or clock dial
6
: a crystalline material used in electronics as a frequency-determining element or for rectification
7
: crystal meth
broadly : methamphetamine in any form when used illicitly

crystal

2 of 2

adjective

1
: consisting of or resembling crystal : clear, lucid
2
: relating to or using a crystal
a crystal radio receiver

Synonyms

Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of crystal in a Sentence

Noun the crystal structure of minerals a necklace made of crystal Some of the crystals used in the necklace are a pale pink color.
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.
Noun
Shop for one-of-a-kind Bohemian looks at Moona Star, handmade jewelry and restorative crystals at Jalan Jalan, and vintage clothes at Hidden Treasures. — Visit California, AFAR Media, 13 Mar. 2025 Related Articles Gudrun was the fruit of a partnership between Bordallo Pinheiro and fellow Portuguese porcelain and crystal maker Vista Alegre, which celebrated their 200-year anniversary in 2024. — Sofia Celeste, WWD, 6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Dive your way around the island Courtesy of the Curaçao Tourist Board With more than 70 dive sites, crystal blue water, vibrant coral, and unique biodiversity, Curaçao is a haven for scuba divers. — Curaçao Tourist Board, AFAR Media, 26 Feb. 2025 The skirt alone contains 190,000 crystal sequin and rhinestone embellishments, giving the entire piece a sweeping dress as Grande moves. — Aamina Inayat Khan, StyleCaster, 2 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for crystal

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English cristal "transparent quartz, object made from it," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin crystallum, crystallus, crustallum "clear ice, rock crystal," borrowed from Greek krýstallos, probably borrowed from a pre-Greek substratum; replacing Old English cristalla, cristal, cristallum, borrowed from Latin crystallum

Note: Greek krýstallos was traditionally linked etymologically with krýos "icy cold, frost" and Latin crusta "hard surface layer," though the morphological details were not explicable (and crusta does not refer to ice or cold). More likely, as asserted by Robert Beekes (Etymological Dictionary of Greek [Leiden: Brill, 2010], p. 787), krýstallos, as evidenced by the suffix -allos (from *aly- according to Beekes) and the variant króstallos, is of pre-Greek origin. Cf. notes at cryo-, crust.

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of crystal was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing crystal

Rhymes for crystal

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Browse Nearby Words

crystal
Crystal
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Cite this Entry

“Crystal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crystal. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

crystal

1 of 2 noun
crys·​tal ˈkris-tᵊl How to pronounce crystal (audio)
1
: a quartz that is transparent or nearly so
2
: something transparent like crystal
3
: a solid form of a substance or mixture that has a regularly repeating internal arrangement of its atoms and often external plane faces
a crystal of quartz
a snow crystal
a salt crystal
4
: a clear colorless glass of very good quality
also : things made of this glass
5
: the transparent cover over a watch or clock dial

crystal

2 of 2 adjective
1
: made of or resembling crystal
2
: using a crystal as a detector
a crystal radio receiver

Medical Definition

crystal

noun
crys·​tal ˈkris-tᵊl How to pronounce crystal (audio)
1
: a body that is formed by the solidification of a chemical element, a compound, or a mixture and has a regularly repeating internal arrangement of its atoms and often external plane faces
2
: crystal meth
broadly : methamphetamine in any form when used illicitly
crystal adjective

Geographical Definition

Crystal

geographical name

Crys·​tal ˈkri-stᵊl How to pronounce Crystal (audio)
city in southeastern Minnesota north of Minneapolis population 22,151

More from Merriam-Webster on crystal

Nglish: Translation of crystal for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about crystal

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