crystalline

Alternative forms

• chrystalline (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English cristallyn, cristallyne, from Old French cristallin, from Latin crystallinus, from Ancient Greek κρυστάλλινος (krustállinos), from κρύσταλλος (krústallos, “crystal”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɹɪs.tə.lɪn/, /ˈkɹɪs.təˌlaɪn/, /ˈkɹɪs.təˌliːn/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Adjective

crystalline (comparative more crystalline, superlative most crystalline)

1. Of, relating to, or composed of crystals.

   Synonym: crystal

2. (chemistry) Having a regular three-dimensional molecular structure.
3. Resembling crystal in being clear and transparent.
   • 1769, Firishta, translated by Alexander Dow, Tales translated from the Persian of Inatulla of Delhi, volume I, Dublin: P. and W. Wilson et al., page iii:

     There the roſy-finger'd Spring, by the liquid mirror of a cryſtalline pool, was attiring her fair daughters in ſeven-fold ornaments, while the love-whiſpering breezes ſtole kiſſes as they paſſed, and fanned their glowing beauties.

4. Pure.
   • 2020 August 7, Jonathan Liew, “Phil Foden stars to offer Manchester City glimpse of multiple futures”, in The Guardian‎:

     not in his favoured midfield role, either but as a false No 9: the sort of role Guardiola only hands to his chosen, crystalline few: Mario Götze at Bayern Munich (less successfully), Lionel Messi at Barcelona (a little more so).

Noun

crystalline (plural crystallines)

1. (obsolete) Any crystalline substance.
2. (obsolete) aniline

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /krysˈtal.li.ne/, [krʏs̠ˈt̪älːʲɪnɛ]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /krisˈtal.li.ne/, [krisˈt̪älːine]

Adjective

crystalline

1. vocative masculine singular of crystallinus