Definition

1. Noun:
   • A solid material whose atoms, molecules, or ions are arranged in a highly ordered, repeating three-dimensional structure: This is the scientific meaning, referring to the internal, regular atomic arrangement of substances like quartz, salt, or diamond.
   • A piece of a crystalline substance, often with flat geometric faces: This refers to a natural or artificially grown piece of a crystal, like a quartz crystal or a snow crystal.
   • High-quality, colorless glass, often used for making decorative objects or glassware: This refers to a type of fine glass, typically containing lead oxide, known for its brilliance and clarity (e.g., crystal vase).
   • The transparent protective cover over the face of a watch or clock: This is a specialized meaning in timepieces.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The geologist examined the quartz crystal under a microscope. (Referring to a piece of a crystalline mineral.)
  • Table salt forms perfect cubic crystals. (Referring to the regular atomic structure.)
  • She inherited a beautiful set of crystal glasses. (Referring to high-quality glassware.)
  • He scratched the crystal of his wristwatch. (Referring to the watch glass.)

Advanced Usage

• "Crystal clear": (idiomatic) extremely clear, transparent, or easy to understand.
  • The instructions were crystal clear.
  • The lake water was crystal clear.
• "Crystal ball": a glass ball used in fortune-telling; used figuratively to refer to predicting the future.
  • I don't have a crystal ball to tell you what will happen next year.

Variants and Related Words

• Crystalline (adj): having the structure or form of a crystal; clear and transparent like crystal.
  • The crystalline structure of ice.
• Crystallize (verb): to form crystals; to make or become definite and clear.
  • The sugar crystallized in the jar.
  • Her ideas began to crystallize into a plan.

Synonyms

• Gemstone (for a precious crystal like a diamond or emerald).
• Glass (specifically for the glassware meaning, though "crystal" implies higher quality).
• Watch glass (for the timepiece component).

Related Phrases

• Liquid crystal: A state of matter with properties between liquids and crystals, used in display screens (LCD).
  • The laptop has a liquid crystal display.

Related Idioms

• As clear as crystal: perfectly clear or obvious.
  • His explanation was as clear as crystal.

Noun

1. a protective cover that protects the face of a watch
2. glassware made of quartz
3. colorless glass made of almost pure silica
4. a rock formed by the solidification of a substance; has regularly repeating internal structure; external plane faces
5. a crystalline element used as a component in various electronic devices
6. a solid formed by the solidification of a chemical and having a highly regular atomic structure