crystal

nounadjectivecommon in dialogue

//ˈkɹɪstəl//

A solid composed of an array of atoms or molecules possessing long-range order and arranged in a pattern which is periodic in three dimensions.

noun

1
A solid composed of an array of atoms or molecules possessing long-range order and arranged in a pattern which is periodic in three dimensions.
2
A piece of glimmering, shining mineral resembling ice or glass.
3
A fine type of glassware, or the material used to make it.
4
slangCrystal meth; methamphetamine hydrochloride.
He tells me he's been shooting crystal, which I already pretty much know because he does not bother to keep his sleeves rolled down over the needle tracks.
5
figurativeA person's eye.
Come, let's away. My loue, giue me thy Lippes: Looke to my Chattels, and my Moueables: [...] Goe, cleare they Chryſtalls. Yokefellowes in Armes, let vs to France
6
The glass over the dial of a watch case.

Etymology

From Middle English crystal, cristal, criȝstall, representing a merger of Old English cristalla (from Latin crystallus) and Anglo-Norman cristall, Old French cristal (from Latin crystallum). The Latin is derived from Ancient Greek κρύσταλλος (krústallos, “clear ice”), from κρύος (krúos, “frost”), from Proto-Indo-European *krews- (“hard, hard outer surface, crust”).

adjective

1
Made of crystal.
Its ceiling was crystal, around on the wall / Thickly studded were rubies and diamonds rare; / But purer than crystal, and brighter than all / Of the jewels adorning her glittering hall, / Was the mermaiden languishing there.
The walls were crystal, and they seemed to have hundreds of different-colored lights shifting behind them.
The uneven floor was crystal as well, as if there once had been huge crystals jutting up here, too, but ones that had been broken away and the surface crudely adzed.
2
figurativeVery clear; coherent.
"Do I make myself clear?" / "Crystal."
[…] the more faire and chriſtall is the skie, The vglier ſeeme the cloudes that in it flye: […]

Forms

plural: crystals

cry · To shed tears; to weep, especially in anger or sadness.crying · That cries.crypt · An underground vault.

crystal · A solid composed of an array of atoms or molecules possessing long-range order and arranged in a pattern which is periodic in three dimensions.

Crystal · A female given name from English.CSU · The Bavarian Christian Social Union (Christlich-Soziale…CT · Initialism of computed tomography. A CT scan.

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