crystallize

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English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From crystal +‎ -ize.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈkɹɪstəlaɪz/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Verb

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crystallize (third-person singular simple present crystallizes, present participle crystallizing, simple past and past participle crystallized)

  1. (transitive) (chemistry, physics) to make something form into crystals
    I crystallized the copper sulfate by slowly cooling a saturated solution.
  2. (intransitive) to assume a crystalline form
    The copper sulphate crystallized from solution.
  3. (transitive) to give something a definite or precise form
    After some thought, I crystallized my ideas for the paper.
  4. (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.
  5. (transitive) to coat something with crystals, especially with sugar
    We crystallized the fruit by coating in sugar.

Derived terms

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Translations

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