ˈkrɪstl n. & adj. --n. 1 a a
clear transparent mineral,
esp. rock crystal. b a
piece of
this. 2 (in full crystal glass) a
highly transparent
glass;
flint glass. b articles
made of this. 3
the glass
over a watch-face. 4
Electronics a
crystalline piece of
semiconductor. 5 Chem. a an aggregation of molecules
with a
definite internal structure and the
external form of a
solid enclosed by symmetrically arranged plane faces. b a solid
whose constituent particles are symmetrically arranged. --adj. (usu. attrib.) made
of, like, or clear as crystal. øcrystal ball a glass
globe used in crystal-gazing. crystal
class Crystallog.
any of 32 categories of crystals
classified according to
their symmetry. crystal clear
unclouded, transparent. crystal-gazing the process of concentrating one's
gaze on a crystal ball
supposedly in
order to
obtain a
picture of
future events etc. crystal
lattice Crystallog. the
regular repeating
pattern of atoms, ions, or molecules in a crystalline
substance. crystal set a
simple early form of
radio receiving
apparatus with a crystal
touching a
metal wire as the
rectifier. crystal
system Crystallog. any of
seven possible unique combinations of
unit cells, crystal lattices, and symmetry elements of a crystal class. [OE f. OF cristal f. L crystallum f. Gk krustallos
ice, crystal]
