crystallize
verb/ˈkɹɪstəlaɪz/
Etymology 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.
- I crystallized the copper sulfate by slowly cooling a saturated solution.
2
To assume a crystalline form.
- The copper sulphate crystallized from solution.
3
Figuratively To give a definite or precise form to (something).
- After some thought, I crystallized my ideas for the paper.
- Two events from the past week help crystallize this strange, contradictory moment for the U.S. economy.2026 June 13, Ben Casselman, “Wages Are Falling. Wealth Is Surging. No Wonder Americans Are Unhappy.”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
4
Figuratively To take a definite form.
- My ideas crystallized overnight.
- The situation did crystallize, if painfully, under the stars, and by morning each knew what he must confess.1957, Patrick White, chapter 12, in Voss:
5
To coat something with crystals, especially with sugar.
- We crystallized the fruit by coating in sugar.
- Derived terms
- cocrystallize, crystallizability, crystallizable, crystallization, crystallisation, crystallizer, decrystallize, nanocrystallize, noncrystallizing, recrystallize, uncrystallize
- Related terms
- crystalline