n.
- a piece of a homogeneous solid substance having a natural geometrically regular form with symmetrically arranged plane faces.
▸Chemistry any solid consisting of a symmetrical, ordered, three-dimensional aggregation of atoms or molecules.
▸a clear transparent mineral, especially quartz.
-
(also crystal glass)
highly transparent glass with a high refractive index.
▸the glass over a watch face.
-
[as modifier]
clear and transparent:
the crystal waters of the lake.
Etymology
OE (denoting ice or a mineral resembling it), from OFr. cristal, from L. crystallum, from Gk krustallos ‘ice, crystal’.