crystallize

[ kris-tl-ahyz ]
See synonyms for crystallize on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),crys·tal·lized, crys·tal·liz·ing.
  1. to form into crystals; cause to assume crystalline form.

  2. to give definite or concrete form to: to crystallize an idea.

  1. to coat with sugar.

verb (used without object),crys·tal·lized, crys·tal·liz·ing.
  1. to form crystals; become crystalline in form.

  2. to assume definite or concrete form.

Origin of crystallize

1
First recorded in 1590–1600; crystall- + -ize
  • Also especially British, crys·tal·lise .

Other words from crystallize

  • crys·tal·liz·a·bil·i·ty, noun
  • crys·tal·liz·a·ble, adjective
  • crys·tal·liz·er, noun
  • non·crys·tal·liz·a·ble, adjective
  • non·crys·tal·lized, adjective
  • non·crys·tal·liz·ing, adjective
  • un·crys·tal·liz·a·ble, adjective
  • un·crys·tal·lized, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use crystallize in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for crystallize

crystallize

crystalize, crystallise or crystalise

/ (ˈkrɪstəˌlaɪz) /


verb
  1. to form or cause to form crystals; assume or cause to assume a crystalline form or structure

  2. to coat or become coated with sugar: crystallized fruit

  1. to give a definite form or expression to (an idea, argument, etc) or (of an idea, argument, etc) to assume a recognizable or definite form

Derived forms of crystallize

  • crystallizable, crystalizable, crystallisable or crystalisable, adjective
  • crystallizability, crystalizability, crystallisability or crystalisability, noun
  • crystallization, crystalization, crystallisation or crystalisation, noun
  • crystallizer, crystalizer, crystalliser or crystaliser, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012