crystal

/ˈkrɪstl/

/ˈkrɪstəl/

Other forms: crystals

Various solid substances that glitter because their surfaces are made up of planes that catch the light are called crystals. If you leave your ice cream in the freezer too long, you may find a coating of ice crystals on top.

Some people think that certain natural crystals — quartz, for instance — have mystical properties and if you wear them or hold them, they cure whatever’s wrong with you. Crystal is also the word for transparent glass made of silica, and it's also a name for fine glassware — the kind that reverberates with a nice ping when you flick your fingernail against it. Another kind of crystal is the glass cover that protects the face of your watch.

Definitions of crystal

1. noun

   a solid formed by the solidification of a chemical and having a highly regular atomic structure
   types:

   flake, snowflake

   a crystal of snow

   diamond dust, frost mist, frost snow, ice crystal, ice needle, poudrin, snow mist

   small crystals of ice

   gem, gemstone, stone

   a crystalline rock that can be cut and polished for jewelry

   twins

   (mineralogy) two interwoven crystals that are mirror images on each other

   ice, water ice

   water frozen in the solid state

   cabochon

   a highly polished gem that is cut convexly but without facets

   black ice

   a thin coating of ice (as from freezing mist) on a road or sidewalk; nearly invisible but very hazardous

   frost, hoar, hoarfrost, rime

   ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)

   hailstone

   small pellet of ice that falls during a hailstorm

   icicle

   ice resembling a pendent spear, formed by the freezing of dripping water

   opaque gem

   a gemstone that is opaque

   transparent gem

   a gemstone having the property of transmitting light without serious diffusion

   type of:

   solid

   matter that is solid at room temperature and pressure
2. noun

   a rock formed by the solidification of a substance; has regularly repeating internal structure; external plane faces
   synonyms: crystallisation, crystallization

   types:

   crystallite

   any of numerous minute rudimentary crystalline bodies of unknown composition found in glassy igneous rock

   type of:

   rock, stone

   a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
3. noun

   a crystalline element used as a component in various electronic devices
   types:

   piezoelectric crystal

   a crystal that can be used as a transducer

   type of:

   component, constituent, element

   an artifact that is one of the individual parts of which a composite entity is made up; especially a part that can be separated from or attached to a system
4. noun

   colorless glass made of almost pure silica
   synonyms: lechatelierite, quartz, quartz glass, vitreous silica

   type of:

   natural glass

   magma of any composition that cooled very rapidly
5. noun

   glassware made of quartz
   type of:

   glassware, glasswork

   an article of tableware made of glass
6. noun

   a protective cover that protects the face of a watch
   synonyms: watch crystal, watch glass

   type of:

   protection, protective cover, protective covering

   a covering that is intend to protect from damage or injury