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Webster 1913 Edition


Crystal

Crys′tal

(krĭs′tal)
,
Noun.
[OE.
cristal
, F.
cristal
, L.
crystallum
crystal, ice, fr. Gr.
κρύσταλλος
, fr.
κρύοσ
icy cold, frost; cf. AS.
crystalla
, fr. L.
crystallum
; prob. akin to E.
crust
. See
Crust
,
Raw
.]
1.
(Chem. & Min.)
The regular form which a substance tends to assume in solidifying, through the inherent power of cohesive attraction. It is bounded by plane surfaces, symmetrically arranged, and each species of crystal has fixed axial ratios. See
Crystallization
.
2.
The material of quartz, in crystallization transparent or nearly so, and either colorless or slightly tinged with gray, or the like; – called also
rock crystal
. Ornamental vessels are made of it. Cf.
Smoky quartz
,
Pebble
; also
Brazilian pebble
, under
Brazilian
.
3.
A species of glass, more perfect in its composition and manufacture than common glass, and often cut into ornamental forms. See
Flint glass
.
4.
The glass over the dial of a watch case.
5.
Anything resembling crystal, as clear water, etc.
The blue
crystal
of the seas.
Byron.
Blood crystal
.
See under
Blood
.
Compound crystal
.
See under
Compound
.
Iceland crystal
,
a transparent variety of calcite, or crystallized calcium carbonate, brought from Iceland, and used in certain optical instruments, as the polariscope.
Rock crystal
, or
Mountain crystal
,
any transparent crystal of quartz, particularly of limpid or colorless quartz.

Crys′tal

,
Adj.
Consisting of, or like, crystal; clear; transparent; lucid; pellucid; crystalline.
Through
crystal
walls each little mote will peep.
Shakespeare
By
crystal
streams that murmur through the meads.
Dryden.
The
crystal
pellets at the touch congeal,
And from the ground rebounds the ratting hail.
H. Brooks.

Webster 1828 Edition


Crystal

CRYSTAL

,
Noun.
[L. Gr., frost.]
1.
In chemistry and mineralogy, an inorganic body, which, by the operation of affinity, has assumed the form of a regular solid, terminated by a certain number of plane and smooth surfaces.
2.
A factitious body, cast in glass houses, called crystal glass; a species of glass, more perfect in its composition and manufacture, than common glass. The best kind is the Venice crystal. It is called also factitious crystal or paste.
3.
A substance of any kind having the form of a crystal.
4.
The glass of a watch-case.
Rock crystal, or mountain crystal, a general name for all the transparent crystals of quartz, particularly of limpid or colorless quartz.
Iceland crystal, a variety of calcarious spar, or crystalized carbonate of lime, brought from Iceland. It occurs in laminated masses, easily divisible into rhombs, and is remarkable for its double refraction.

CRYSTAL

,
Adj.
Consisting of crystal, or like crystal; clear; transparent; lucid; pellucid.
By crystal streams that murmur thorough the meads.

Definition 2024


Crystal

Crystal

See also: crystal

English

Proper noun

Crystal

  1. A female given name.
    • 2000 Barbara Kingsolver: Prodigal Summer. HarperCollins 2000. ISBN 0 571 20638 7 pages 121, 298:
      "Crystal's pretty. The name, I mean."
      Jewel shook her head. "It doesn't look like her. She looks like Beaver Cleaver." - - -
      Crys chuckled. For the first time since she'd planted herself fiercely on Lusa's driveway that morning she sounded clear and transparent, like a child. Like the crystal she was.
    • 2004 Jonathan Kellerman: Therapy ISBN 0 7553 0736 4 page 335:
      "No prob. I'm wired, anyway...Christa or Crystal. Why'd Kayla peg her for a stripper?"
      "Because Gavin said she was a dancer," I said.
      "Well," he said, "name a girl Crystal and what's more likely? That she'll get a Ph.D. in biomechanics, or end up shaking her tail for tips?"
  2. A ghost town in Colorado.
  3. A town in Maine.
  4. A city in Minnesota.
  5. A census-designated place town in New Mexico.
  6. A city/town in North Dakota.
  7. A town in Wisconsin.

German

Noun

Crystal n (genitive Crystals, no plural)

  1. crystal meth

Declension

crystal

crystal

See also: Crystal

English

Alternative forms

Noun

crystal (countable and uncountable, plural crystals)

  1. (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.
  2. (countable) A piece of glimmering, shining mineral resembling ice or glass.
  3. (uncountable) A fine type of glassware, or the material used to make it.
  4. (uncountable, slang) crystal meth: methamphetamine hydrochloride.
  5. The glass over the dial of a watch case.

Synonyms

  • (array of atoms): grain

Antonyms

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Adjective

crystal (not comparable)

  1. Very clear.
    "Do I make myself clear?" / "Crystal."

References

  • crystal” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary (2001).