Dictionary

crystallize en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈkɹɪstəlaɪz/

Etymology

From crystal + -ize. The double l reflects the classical stem found in its etyma, Latin crystallus and Ancient Greek κρύσταλλος (krústallos), rather than the simplified spelling of the English base noun. Compare Hellenistic Greek κρυσταλλίζειν (krustallízein, “to shine like crystal”), post‐classical Latin crystallizare (“to change into crystal”), and French cristalliser.

Meanings

1. (transitive) 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. (figuratively, transitive) To give a definite or precise form to (something).
   • Two events from the past week help crystallize this strange, contradictory moment for the U.S. economy. 2026 June 13, Ben Casselman, “Wages Are Falling. Wealth Is Surging. No Wonder Americans Are Unhappy.”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
   • After some thought, I crystallized my ideas for the paper.
4. (figuratively, intransitive) To take a definite form.
   • The situation did crystallize, if painfully, under the stars, and by morning each knew what he must confess. 1957, Patrick White, chapter 12, in Voss:
   • My ideas crystallized overnight.
5. (transitive) To coat something with crystals, especially with sugar.
   • We crystallized the fruit by coating in sugar.

Forms

Deriveds

crystallization · recrystallize · crystallizer · crystallizability · crystallizable · crystallisation · uncrystallize · nanocrystallize · decrystallize · noncrystallizing · cocrystallize

Relateds

crystalline

Translations (50)

fi kiteytyä (to assume a crystalline form) · fr cristalliser (to coat with crystals) · es cristalizar (to make something form into crystals) · pt cristalizar-se (to assume a crystalline form) · pl krystalizować (to make something form into crystals) · nl kristalliseren (to make something form into crystals) · fi kiteyttää (to give a precise form) · sq kristalizohem (to assume a crystalline form) · cs krystalizovat (to assume a crystalline form) · fr cristalliser (to assume a crystalline form) · th ตกผลึก (to make something form into crystals) · vi kết tinh (to make something form into crystals) · ru кристаллизова́ть (to make something form into crystals) · eo kristaligi (to make something form into crystals) · mi whātioata (to make something form into crystals) · ms menghablurkan (to make something form into crystals) · ca cristal·litzar (take a definite form) · da krystallisere (to give a precise form) · fi kiteytyä (take a definite form) · fr cristalliser (to make something form into crystals) · da krystallisere (to make something form into crystals) · ca cristal·litzar (to assume a crystalline form) · sq kristalizoj (to make something form into crystals) · ca cristal·litzar (to make something form into crystals) · da krystallisere (to coat with crystals) · fi sirotella sokerilla (to coat with crystals) · da kandisere (to coat with crystals) · ms mengkristalkan (to make something form into crystals) · cmn 結晶 /结晶 (to make something form into crystals) · ca cristal·litzar (to give a precise form) · ms mengkristal (to coat with crystals) · da udkrystallisere (take a definite form) · pt cristalizar (to coat with crystals) · da krystallisere (to assume a crystalline form) · da krystallisere sig (take a definite form) · da krystallisere (take a definite form) · ru кристаллизова́ться (to assume a crystalline form) · de kristallisieren (to make something form into crystals) · bg кристализирам (to assume a crystalline form) · ca cristal·litzar (to coat with crystals) · eo kristaligi (to give a precise form) · fi kiteyttää (to make something form into crystals) · bg кристализирам (to make something form into crystals) · sv kristallisera (to make something form into crystals) · pt cristalizar (to make something form into crystals) · ms menghablur (to coat with crystals) · eo kristaliĝi (take a definite form) · da udkrystallisere (to assume a crystalline form) · da krystallisere sig (to assume a crystalline form) · vi kết tinh (to assume a crystalline form)