crystallize
verb
crys·tal·lize
ˈkri-stə-ˌlīz 
variants
or less commonly crystalize
crystallized; crystallizing
1
: to cause to form crystals or assume crystalline form
2
: to cause to take a definite form
tried to crystallize his thoughts
3
: to coat with crystals especially of sugar
crystallize grapes
: to become crystallized
crystallizer
noun
Examples of crystallize in a Sentence
Eventually the paint will start to crystallize.
Certain conditions can cause carbon to crystallize into diamonds.
Certain conditions can crystallize carbon into diamonds.
The final paragraph of the essay crystallizes her theory.
He tried to crystallize his thoughts.
Her theory crystallizes in the final paragraph of the essay.
Recent Examples on the Web
After all, the dapple of sunlit pool water reflected on the underside of a patio umbrella on a 75-degree day in June is just the mirror image of a grimy, chilly May fog crystallized on the palm trees lining cracked asphalt streets.
—
Goth Shakira, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2024
What the musical does crystallize is the thrilling nature of audacious leaps forward in thinking.
—Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, 17 May 2024
Gonzalez said the process of adding honey directly into the espresso shot, rather than pouring it into the drink later, helps to keep the honey from crystallizing too quickly, especially in iced drinks.
—Endia Fontanez, The Arizona Republic, 15 May 2024
Harry Dunn had a moment — between the madness of Jan. 6, 2021, and the swearing-in of President Joe Biden two weeks later — in which something crystallized.
—Jeff Barker, Baltimore Sun, 6 May 2024
Ornella notes that bigger companies need to go faster, to produce more, and so often use higher heat and then over-cool, which can cause any water remaining in the dough to crystallize.
—Ligaya Mishan Anthony Cotsifas Emily Woo Zeller Tanya Pérez Quinton Kamara, New York Times, 13 May 2024
But the show’s biggest problem crystallizes when almost everyone is on stage for the nearest this adaptation gets to a production number.
—David Benedict, Variety, 8 May 2024
For comedian Billy Crystal, life highlights and lowlights all revolve around sports
Speaking of big stages, a few moments crystallize.
—Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, 6 May 2024
Online communities such as the subreddit r/BPD crystallize psychiatric tags into identities to be socially accommodated and invite people to diagnose themselves.
—Manvir Singh, The New Yorker, 6 May 2024
Goth Shakira, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2024
What the musical does crystallize is the thrilling nature of audacious leaps forward in thinking.
—Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, 17 May 2024
Gonzalez said the process of adding honey directly into the espresso shot, rather than pouring it into the drink later, helps to keep the honey from crystallizing too quickly, especially in iced drinks.
—Endia Fontanez, The Arizona Republic, 15 May 2024
Harry Dunn had a moment — between the madness of Jan. 6, 2021, and the swearing-in of President Joe Biden two weeks later — in which something crystallized.
—Jeff Barker, Baltimore Sun, 6 May 2024
Ornella notes that bigger companies need to go faster, to produce more, and so often use higher heat and then over-cool, which can cause any water remaining in the dough to crystallize.
—Ligaya Mishan Anthony Cotsifas Emily Woo Zeller Tanya Pérez Quinton Kamara, New York Times, 13 May 2024
But the show’s biggest problem crystallizes when almost everyone is on stage for the nearest this adaptation gets to a production number.
—David Benedict, Variety, 8 May 2024
For comedian Billy Crystal, life highlights and lowlights all revolve around sports
Speaking of big stages, a few moments crystallize.
—Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, 6 May 2024
Online communities such as the subreddit r/BPD crystallize psychiatric tags into identities to be socially accommodated and invite people to diagnose themselves.
—Manvir Singh, The New Yorker, 6 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'crystallize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near crystallize
Cite this Entry
“Crystallize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crystallize. Accessed 28 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
crystallize
verb
crys·tal·lize
ˈkris-tə-ˌlīz
crystallized; crystallizing
1
a
: to cause to form crystals or assume crystalline form
b
: to become crystallized
2
: to take or cause to take definite form
the plan crystallized slowly
Medical Definition
crystallize
verb
crys·tal·lize
variants
also crystalize
also British crystallise
or crystalise
crystallized also crystallized also British crystallised or crystallised; crystallizing also crystallizing also British crystallising or crystallising
: to cause to form crystals or assume crystalline form
especially
: to cause to form perfect or large crystals
: to become crystallized
—often used with out
the solid crystallized out
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