: quartz that is transparent or nearly so and that is either colorless or only slightly tinged
2
: something resembling crystal in transparency and colorlessness
3
: a body that is formed by the solidification of a chemical element, a compound, or a mixture and has a regularly repeating internal arrangement of its atoms and often external plane faces
4
: a clear colorless glass of superior quality
also: objects or ware of such glass
5
: the glass or transparent plastic cover over a watch or clock dial
6
: a crystalline material used in electronics as a frequency-determining element or for rectification
Noun the crystal structure of minerals a necklace made of crystal Some of the crystals used in the necklace are a pale pink color. The wine glasses are made of the finest crystal. She inherited her mother's crystal. Adjective an unspoiled region with majestic mountains and crystal streams See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
And the Rotten Tomatoes scores make that progression of this stellar Hulu series crystal-clear. Andy Meek, BGR, 31 Aug. 2022 In between, wispy brown bushes and dust kicked up by truck tires swirls around a crystal-clear blue sky. Kevin Maurer, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2022 It’s on this track that everything seems to click for Markowitz, as his melodic vocals shine more crystal-clear than ever. Stephanie Williams, Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2022 Some of us sunbathed and others got in the crystal-clear water -- some by choice and others carried by force. John-michael Mulloy, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Aug. 2022 Here’s how to make toasted salt: López-Alt’s original method for toasted salt is as simple as could be: Over medium heat, add Diamond crystal kosher salt to the bottom of an empty wok.Bon Appétit, 29 Mar. 2022 The top notes are sweet and maritime, an early cereal hint of porridge oats rapidly giving way to more cleansing and maritime aromas that suggest briny seaweed, crystal salt and iodine, on a base of mountain smoke. Karla Alindahao, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2021 The roommates now stock both sea salt and kosher crystal salt, for example. Chris Kornelis, WSJ, 11 June 2021 If the station wagon only got AM radio stations, something about her still came through crystal-clear. Hank Stuever, Washington Post, 9 Aug. 2022
Adjective
Most cruises from California sail on itineraries to the Mexican Riviera, which encompasses several Pacific Coast towns known for sandy beaches with crystal blue waters, vibrant nightlife, ample watersports opportunities and stunning landscape views. Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 19 July 2022 Taylor and Joe were photographed making out and packing on the PDA in crystal blue water.Seventeen, 25 Aug. 2022 Most cruises from California sail on itineraries to the Mexican Riviera, which encompasses several Pacific Coast towns known for sandy beaches with crystal blue waters, vibrant nightlife, ample watersports opportunities and stunning landscape views. Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 19 July 2022 Most cruises from California sail on itineraries to the Mexican Riviera, which encompasses several Pacific Coast towns known for sandy beaches with crystal blue waters, vibrant nightlife, ample watersports opportunities and stunning landscape views. Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 19 July 2022 Most cruises from California sail on itineraries to the Mexican Riviera, which encompasses several Pacific Coast towns known for sandy beaches with crystal blue waters, vibrant nightlife, ample watersports opportunities and stunning landscape views. Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 19 July 2022 Most cruises from California sail on itineraries to the Mexican Riviera, which encompasses several Pacific Coast towns known for sandy beaches with crystal blue waters, vibrant nightlife, ample watersports opportunities and stunning landscape views. Michael Salerno, USA TODAY, 23 July 2022 Guests can take a dip in the crystal blue water in one of four private coves or the resort’s two swimming pools. Ramsey Qubein, Forbes, 10 July 2022 Hawn and Russell have become regular visitors to the island of Skiathos, which is known for crystal blue waters and beautiful beaches, according to visitgreece.com. Stephanie Wenger, PEOPLE.com, 17 June 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English cristal "transparent quartz, object made from it," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin crystallum, crystallus, crustallum "clear ice, rock crystal," borrowed from Greek krýstallos, probably borrowed from a pre-Greek substratum; replacing Old English cristalla, cristal, cristallum, borrowed from Latin crystallum
Note: Greek krýstallos was traditionally linked etymologically with krýos "icy cold, frost" and Latin crusta "hard surface layer," though the morphological details were not explicable (and crusta does not refer to ice or cold). More likely, as asserted by Robert Beekes (Etymological Dictionary of Greek [Leiden: Brill, 2010], p. 787), krýstallos, as evidenced by the suffix -allos (from *aly- according to Beekes) and the variant króstallos, is of pre-Greek origin. Cf. notes at cryo-, crust.