Crystalline
adjective /ˈkrɪs.tə.laɪn/ — Having perfect clarity or transparency
Definition
Clear as crystal — transparently clear, or having the regular, perfect structure of a crystal. Used both literally and figuratively for things of exceptional purity and clarity.
Beyond the definition
The quality of things that have been made completely transparent. Crystalline clarity is the state of having no opacity left — in thought, in water, in prose.
Origin & history
From Greek 'krystallos' (ice, crystal) — from 'kryos' (cold). Originally meant resembling ice. Ice was the model of clarity before glass was perfected.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Her crystalline prose left nowhere to hide and nothing to interpret away.
The mountain air was crystalline — cold and clear and startlingly real.
Some minds work crystalline, cutting straight through to the essential.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Crystalline” when the meaning fits your context: Clear as crystal — transparently clear, or having the regular, perfect structure of a crystal. Used both literally and figuratively for things of exceptional purity and clarity.
Synonyms
clear, transparent, pellucid, limpid, lucid
Antonyms
murky, opaque, clouded, obscure
Related words
Questions about this word
What does "Crystalline" mean?
Crystalline is adjective meaning: Having perfect clarity or transparency. Clear as crystal — transparently clear, or having the regular, perfect structure of a crystal. Used both literally and figuratively for things of exceptional purity and clarity.
Where does the word "Crystalline" come from?
From Greek 'krystallos' (ice, crystal) — from 'kryos' (cold). Originally meant resembling ice. Ice was the model of clarity before glass was perfected.