crystallize

• crystalize (US)
• crystallise (non-Oxford British English)
• crystalise (non-Oxford British English, rare)

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.

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɹɪstəlaɪz/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

crystallize (third-person singular simple present crystallizes, present participle crystallizing, simple past and past participle crystallized)

1. (transitive, chemistry, physics) 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. (transitive) To give a definite or precise form to (something).

   After some thought, I crystallized my ideas for the paper.

4. (intransitive) To take a definite form.

   My ideas crystallized overnight.

   • 1957, Patrick White, chapter 12, in Voss:

     The situation did crystallize, if painfully, under the stars, and by morning each knew what he must confess.

5. (transitive) To coat something with crystals, especially with sugar.

   We crystallized the fruit by coating in sugar.

• crystalline