Crystal vs. Crystalline — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 28, 2023
Crystal is a solid material whose atoms are arranged in a highly ordered pattern. Crystalline refers to a structure, often solid, that has a crystal-like pattern.
Difference Between Crystal and Crystalline
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Crystal primarily refers to a solid substance in which the atoms, molecules, or ions are arranged in an orderly repeating pattern extending in all three spatial dimensions. It is often used to describe specific solid substances like salt crystals or quartz crystals, which exhibit well-defined geometric shapes and are typically bounded by smooth, flat surfaces. When the term "crystal" is used, it usually denotes the presence of a tangible, often visually appealing solid with a definite structure.
Crystalline, on the other hand, is an adjective used to describe a material or substance that has a structure characteristic of crystals, or it denotes the nature of crystals. This term doesn’t refer to a tangible object but rather to the quality or state of having a structure resembling that of a crystal. When something is described as crystalline, it often implies that the material has some degree of order or a patterned structure similar to that found in crystals, even if it may not form well-defined crystals.
The usage of the word crystal is widespread, encompassing various fields like chemistry, physics, and mineralogy, to denote substances that exhibit a crystalline structure. It is a term that can stand alone to describe a category of materials that share common structural attributes, implying a certain level of specificity and detail in the arrangement of constituent particles.
In contrast, crystalline serves as a descriptive term, enhancing the understanding of the nature of a substance or material. It provides a qualitative perspective on the structural aspects of a material, offering insights into the degree of order and regularity in its composition. Crystalline can describe not just the perfect order found in ideal crystals but also the partial order found in materials that exhibit some degree of crystallinity.
To summarise, crystal denotes a specific type of solid material with a definite, orderly structure, whereas crystalline is an adjective describing the nature or quality of having a structure characteristic of crystals. Both terms, while related, are used in different contexts to convey distinct aspects of material structure and order.
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Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Noun
Adjective
Definition
A solid material with atoms arranged in an ordered pattern.
Describing a structure characteristic of crystals.
Denotation
Refers to a tangible solid substance.
Refers to the quality or state of a substance.
Application
Specific substances like salt or quartz crystals.
Describing the nature or structure of a material.
Representation
Represents a specific object or substance.
Represents a characteristic or quality.
Compare with Definitions
Crystal
A piece of a homogeneous solid substance having a natural geometrically regular form with symmetrically arranged plane faces.
The geologist found a large quartz crystal in the cave.
Crystalline
Pertaining to crystals or to the principles of crystallography.
The study of crystalline materials is fundamental in mineralogy.
Crystal
A clear, transparent mineral or glass resembling ice.
The chandelier was adorned with hundreds of dazzling crystals.
Crystalline
Made of or similar to crystal.
The crystalline chandelier sparkled brilliantly.
Crystal
The transparent piece of quartz in a watch through which the dial is viewed.
He accidentally cracked the crystal of his wristwatch.
Crystalline
Having the structure and form of a crystal; composed of crystals.
The crystalline structure of salt is easily observable under a microscope.
Crystal
A crystal or crystalline solid is a solid material whose constituents (such as atoms, molecules, or ions) are arranged in a highly ordered microscopic structure, forming a crystal lattice that extends in all directions. In addition, macroscopic single crystals are usually identifiable by their geometrical shape, consisting of flat faces with specific, characteristic orientations.
Crystalline
Clear and sharply defined.
His instructions were crystalline and left no room for misinterpretation.
Crystal
A piece of a homogeneous solid substance having a natural geometrically regular form with symmetrically arranged plane faces
Ice crystals formed where his breath froze
A quartz crystal
Crystalline
Being, relating to, or composed of crystal or crystals.
Crystal
Highly transparent glass with a high refractive index
A crystal chandelier
Crystalline
Resembling crystal, as in transparency or distinctness of structure or outline.
Crystal
Short for crystal meth (methamphetamine)
Crystalline
Of, relating to, or composed of crystals.
Crystal
Clear and transparent like crystal
The clean crystal waters of the lake
Crystalline
(chemistry) Having a regular three-dimensional molecular structure.
Crystal
A homogenous solid formed by a repeating, three-dimensional pattern of atoms, ions, or molecules and having fixed distances between constituent parts.
Crystalline
Resembling crystal in being clear and transparent.
Crystal
The unit cell of such a pattern.
Crystalline
Pure.
Crystal
A mineral, especially a transparent form of quartz, having a crystalline structure, often characterized by external planar faces.
Crystalline
(obsolete) Any crystalline substance.
Crystal
A natural or synthetic crystalline material having piezoelectric or semiconducting properties.
Crystalline
(obsolete) aniline
Crystal
An electrical or electronic device that makes use of such a material, thereby allowing it to receive radio transmissions.
Crystalline
Consisting, or made, of crystal.
Mount, eagle, to my palace crystalline.
Crystal
A high-quality, clear, colorless glass.
Crystalline
Formed by crystallization; like crystal in texture.
Their crystalline structure.
Crystal
An object, especially a vessel or ornament, made of such glass.
Crystalline
Imperfectly crystallized; as, granite is only crystalline, while quartz crystal is perfectly crystallized.
Crystal
Such objects considered as a group.
Crystalline
Fig.: Resembling crystal; pure; transparent; pellucid.
Crystal
A clear glass or plastic protective cover for the face of a watch or clock.
Crystalline
A crystalline substance.
Crystal
(Slang) A stimulant drug, usually methamphetamine, in its powdered form.
Crystalline
See Aniline.
Crystal
Clear or transparent
A crystal lake.
The crystal clarity of their reasoning.
Crystalline
Consisting of or containing or of the nature of crystals;
Granite is crystalline
Crystal
(countable) A solid composed of an array of atoms or molecules possessing long-range order and arranged in a pattern which is periodic in three dimensions.
Crystalline
Distinctly or sharply outlined;
Crystalline sharpness of outline
Crystal
(countable) A piece of glimmering, shining mineral resembling ice or glass.
Crystalline
Transmitting light; able to be seen through with clarity;
The cold crystalline water of melted snow
Crystal clear skies
Could see the sand on the bottom of the limpid pool
Lucid air
A pellucid brook
Transparent cristal
Crystal
(uncountable) A fine type of glassware, or the material used to make it.
Crystal
Crystal meth: methamphetamine hydrochloride.
Crystal
A person's eye.
Crystal
The glass over the dial of a watch case.
Crystal
Very clear.
"Do I make myself clear?" / "Crystal."
Crystal
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.
Crystal
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.
Crystal
A species of glass, more perfect in its composition and manufacture than common glass, and often cut into ornamental forms. See Flint glass.
Crystal
The glass over the dial of a watch case.
Crystal
Anything resembling crystal, as clear water, etc.
The blue crystal of the seas.
Crystal
Consisting of, or like, crystal; clear; transparent; lucid; pellucid; crystalline.
Through crystal walls each little mote will peep.
By crystal streams that murmur through the meads.
The crystal pellets at the touch congeal,And from the ground rebounds the ratting hail.
Crystal
A solid formed by the solidification of a chemical and having a highly regular atomic structure
Crystal
A crystalline element used as a component in various electronic devices
Crystal
A rock formed by the solidification of a substance; has regularly repeating internal structure; external plane faces
Crystal
Colorless glass made of almost pure silica
Crystal
Glassware made of quartz
Crystal
A protective cover that protects the face of a watch
Crystal
A solid material whose constituents, such as atoms, molecules, or ions, are arranged in a highly ordered microscopic structure.
The formation of a snowflake is an example of crystal formation.
Common Curiosities
Can we see the crystal structure of substances?
The crystal structure of many substances can be observed under a microscope.
Is every solid a crystal?
No, not every solid is a crystal; some solids are amorphous, lacking an ordered structure.
What is a crystal?
A crystal is a solid material in which the atoms are arranged in an ordered pattern.
Can crystal refer to a clear glass?
Yes, high-quality, clear, colorless glass is often referred to as crystal.
Is crystalline used to describe the clarity of substances?
Yes, crystalline can describe the clarity and transparency of substances.
What does crystalline mean?
Crystalline describes the structure characteristic of crystals or denotes the quality or state of having such structure.
Does the term crystalline imply a specific crystal shape?
No, crystalline refers to the presence of a crystal-like structure, not a specific shape.
Is crystalline a noun or adjective?
Crystalline is an adjective.
Can crystalline substances be opaque?
Yes, not all crystalline substances are transparent; some are opaque.
Can liquids be crystalline?
No, the term crystalline typically applies to solids, describing their ordered structural arrangement.
Can a material be partially crystalline?
Yes, some materials exhibit both crystalline and amorphous regions.
Can crystals be formed in laboratories?
Yes, many crystals can be synthetically grown in laboratories.
Are synthetic crystals considered true crystals?
Yes, synthetic crystals with an orderly atomic arrangement are considered true crystals.
Are all minerals crystals?
Many minerals form crystals, but not all minerals are crystalline.
Do crystals only form in nature?
No, crystals can form both in nature and under controlled conditions in laboratories.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
