# crystal

Pronunciation: say "KRIS-tuhl" /ˈkɹɪstəl/

## Noun

1. A mineral fragment that shines and resembles glass or ice.
   - Simple: A shiny piece of mineral that looks like ice or glass.
   - _A clear crystal hung from a string in the window, catching the light._
   - _Miners pulled glittering crystals from the rock face._
2. A solid made of atoms or molecules with long-range order, arranged in a pattern that repeats periodically in three dimensions.
   - Simple: A solid where the atoms line up in a regular, repeating pattern.
   - _Each crystal grows as its atoms settle into a fixed, repeating arrangement._
   - _The lab studied how protein crystals scatter X-rays._
3. A fine type of glassware, or the high-quality glass material used to make it.
   - Simple: A fine, high-quality kind of glass used for special cups, bowls, and ornaments.
   - _The chandelier's crystal caught the candlelight and threw rainbows across the room._
   - _Good lead crystal rings with a clear tone when you tap it._
6. The transparent cover fitted over the dial of a watch case to protect the hands and face.
   - Simple: The clear cover over the face of a watch.
   - _The watchmaker replaced the cracked crystal with a sapphire one._
   - _Years of wear had clouded the crystal over the dial._
7. The crystalline form of methamphetamine hydrochloride, a powerful illegal stimulant. *(slang)*
   - Simple: An illegal drug: the solid, crystal-like form of methamphetamine.
   - _Dealers were selling crystal on the city's east side._
   - _She spent years addicted to crystal before getting clean._

## Adjective

4. Very clear and coherent; easy to understand or follow.
   - Simple: Very clear and easy to understand.
   - _His summary was crystal clear from the first line to the last._
   - _Once she drew the diagram, the whole process became crystal._
5. Made of crystal, the fine glass used for quality glassware.
   - Simple: Made from fine, clear glass called crystal.
   - _He inherited a set of crystal decanters from his grandfather._
   - _A crystal chandelier hung above the grand staircase._

## Noun

8. The eye, viewed poetically as something bright and clear. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: An old word for a person's eye, seen as bright and clear.

## Origin

From Middle English via Old English "cristalla", borrowed from Latin "crystallum" ("crystal, ice") and later reinforced by French forms. The Latin word came from Ancient Greek "krústallos" ("clear ice"), from "krúos" ("frost"), ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "hard" or "crust".

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/crystal (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).