crystal

== English == === Alternative forms === christal, christall, chrystal, chrystall, cristal, cristall, crystall (all obsolete) xtal === Etymology === From Middle English crystal, cristal, criȝstall, representing a merger of Old English cristalla (from Latin crystallus) and Anglo-Norman cristall, Old French cristal (from Latin crystallum). The Latin is derived from Ancient Greek κρύσταλλος (krústallos, “clear ice”), from κρύος (krúos, “frost”), from Proto-Indo-European *krews- (“hard, hard outer surface, crust”). === Pronunciation === enPR: krĭsʹtəl, IPA(key): /ˈkɹɪstəl/ Rhymes: -ɪstəl === Noun === crystal (countable and uncountable, plural crystals) (countable) A solid composed of an array of atoms or molecules possessing long-range order and arranged in a pattern which is periodic in three dimensions. Synonym: grain Antonym: glass (countable) A piece of glimmering, shining mineral resembling ice or glass. (uncountable) A fine type of glassware, or the material used to make it. (uncountable, slang) Crystal meth; methamphetamine hydrochloride. (obsolete, figuratively, usually in the plural) A person's eye. The glass over the dial of a watch case. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Descendants ==== → Hindi: क्रिस्टल (krisṭal) → Japanese: クリスタル (kurisutaru) ==== Translations ==== === Adjective === crystal (not comparable) (literally) Made of crystal. (figuratively) Very clear; coherent. ==== Synonyms ==== crystalline ==== Translations ==== === References === Douglas Harper (2001–2026), “crystal”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.