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crystalline

/ˈkrɪsɾəlɪn/
/ˈkrɪstəlɪn/
IPA guide

Things that are made of or resemble crystals are crystalline. Crystalline rocks you find on the beach are glittery and reflective, with many symmetrical planes or surfaces.

A geologist will use the adjective crystalline very literally, describing crystalline chunks of quartz or the crystalline planes of a salt molecule seen under a microscope. Sometimes the word is also used to mean "extremely clear," like the crystalline prose of a short story or the crystalline forms of your striking black-and-white photography. The Greek source is krystallinos, "of crystal," from kryos, "frost."

Definitions of crystalline
  1. adjective
    consisting of or containing or of the nature of crystals
    “granite is crystalline
    synonyms:
    crystalised, crystallized
    having both internal structure and external form of a crystal
    microcrystalline
    containing crystals that are visible only under a microscope
    polycrystalline
    composed of aggregates of crystals
    see moresee less
    antonyms:
    noncrystalline
    not crystalline
    amorphous, uncrystallised, uncrystallized
    without real or apparent crystalline form
  2. adjective
    distinctly or sharply outlined
    “"crystalline sharpness of outline"- John Buchan”
    synonyms:
    distinct
    easy to perceive; especially clearly outlined
  3. adjective
    transmitting light; able to be seen through with clarity
    “the cold crystalline water of melted snow”
    clear
    allowing light to pass through
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