Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Crystal?

\Crys"tal\ (kr?s"tal), n. [OE. cristal, F. cristal, L. crystallum crystal, ice, fr. Gr. ????, fr. ???? icy cold, frost; cf. AS. crystalla, fr. L. crystallum; prob. akin to E. crust. See {Crust}, {Raw}.] 1. (Chem. & Min.) The regular form which a substance tends to assume in solidifying, through the inherent power of cohesive attraction. It is bounded by plane surfaces, symmetrically arranged, and each species of crystal has fixed axial ratios. See {Crystallization}. 2. The material of quartz, in crystallization transparent or nearly so, and either colorless or slightly tinged with gray, or the like; -- called also {rock crystal}. Ornamental vessels are made of it. Cf. {Smoky quartz}, {Pebble}; also {Brazilian pebble}, under {Brazilian}. 3. A species of glass, more perfect in its composition and manufacture than common glass, and often cut into ornamental forms. See {Flint glass}. 4. The glass over the dial of a watch case. 5. Anything resembling crystal, as clear water, etc. The blue crystal of the seas. --Byron. {Blood crystal}. See under {Blood}. {Compound crystal}. See under {Compound}. {Iceland crystal}, a transparent variety of calcite, or crystallized calcium carbonate, brought from Iceland, and used in certain optical instruments, as the polariscope. {Rock crystal}, or {Mountain crystal}, any transparent crystal of quartz, particularly of limpid or colorless quartz.
\Crys"tal\, a. Consisting of, or like, crystal; clear; transparent; lucid; pellucid; crystalline. Through crystal walls each little mote will peep. --Shak. By crystal streams that murmur through the meads. --Dryden. The crystal pellets at the touch congeal, And from the ground rebounds the ratting hail. --H. Brooks.