Crystal vs. Glass — What's the Difference?

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.

Glass is a non-crystalline, often transparent amorphous solid, that has widespread practical, technological, and decorative use in, for example, window panes, tableware, and optics. Glass is most often formed by rapid cooling (quenching) of the molten form; some glasses such as volcanic glass are naturally occurring.

A piece of a homogeneous solid substance having a natural geometrically regular form with symmetrically arranged plane faces

A hard, brittle substance, typically transparent or translucent, made by fusing sand with soda and lime and cooling rapidly. It is used to make windows, drinking containers, and other articles

Highly transparent glass with a high refractive index

A drinking container made from glass

Short for crystal meth (methamphetamine)

A lens, or an optical instrument containing a lens or lenses, in particular a monocle or a magnifying lens.

Clear and transparent like crystal

A mirror

A homogenous solid formed by a repeating, three-dimensional pattern of atoms, ions, or molecules and having fixed distances between constituent parts.

Cover or enclose with glass

The unit cell of such a pattern.

(especially in hunting) scan (one's surroundings) with binoculars

A mineral, especially a transparent form of quartz, having a crystalline structure, often characterized by external planar faces.

Hit (someone) in the face with a beer glass

A natural or synthetic crystalline material having piezoelectric or semiconducting properties.

Reflect as if in a mirror

An electrical or electronic device that makes use of such a material, thereby allowing it to receive radio transmissions.

Any of a large class of materials with highly variable mechanical and optical properties that solidify from the molten state without crystallization, are typically made by silicates fusing with boric oxide, aluminum oxide, or phosphorus pentoxide, are generally hard, brittle, and transparent or translucent, and are considered to be supercooled liquids rather than true solids.

A high-quality, clear, colorless glass.

A drinking vessel.

An object, especially a vessel or ornament, made of such glass.

A mirror.

Such objects considered as a group.

A barometer.

A clear glass or plastic protective cover for the face of a watch or clock.

A window or windowpane.

(Slang) A stimulant drug, usually methamphetamine, in its powdered form.

The series of transparent plastic sheets that are secured vertically above the boards in many ice rinks.

Clear or transparent

Glasses A pair of lenses mounted in a light frame, used to correct faulty vision or protect the eyes.

(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.

Often glasses A binocular or field glass.

(countable) A piece of glimmering, shining mineral resembling ice or glass.

A device, such as a monocle or spyglass, containing a lens or lenses and used as an aid to vision.

(uncountable) A fine type of glassware, or the material used to make it.

The quantity contained by a drinking vessel; a glassful.

Crystal meth: methamphetamine hydrochloride.

Objects made of glass; glassware.

A person's eye.

Made or consisting of glass.

The glass over the dial of a watch case.

Fitted with panes of glass; glazed.

Very clear.

To enclose or encase with glass.

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.

To put into a glass container.

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.

To provide with glass or glass parts.

A species of glass, more perfect in its composition and manufacture than common glass, and often cut into ornamental forms. See Flint glass.

To make glassy; glaze.

The glass over the dial of a watch case.

To see reflected, as in a mirror.

Anything resembling crystal, as clear water, etc.

To reflect.

Consisting of, or like, crystal; clear; transparent; lucid; pellucid; crystalline.

To scan (a tract of land or forest, for example) with an optical instrument.

A solid formed by the solidification of a chemical and having a highly regular atomic structure

To become glassy.

A crystalline element used as a component in various electronic devices

To use an optical instrument, as in looking for game.

A rock formed by the solidification of a substance; has regularly repeating internal structure; external plane faces

An amorphous solid, often transparent substance, usually made by melting silica sand with various additives (for most purposes, a mixture of soda, potash and lime is added).

Colorless glass made of almost pure silica

Any amorphous solid (one without a regular crystal lattice).

Glassware made of quartz

(countable) A vessel from which one drinks, especially one made of glass, plastic, or similar translucent or semi-translucent material.

A protective cover that protects the face of a watch

(metonymically) The quantity of liquid contained in such a vessel.

(uncountable) Glassware.

A mirror.

A magnifying glass or telescope.

(sport) A barrier made of solid, transparent material.

The backboard.

(ice hockey) The clear, protective screen surrounding a hockey rink.

A barometer.

Transparent or translucent.

(obsolete) An hourglass.

Lenses, considered collectively.

A pane of glass; a window (especially of a coach or similar vehicle).

(transitive) To fit with glass; to glaze.

(transitive) To enclose in glass.

(transitive) fibreglass To fit, cover, fill, or build, with fibreglass-reinforced resin composite (fiberglass).

To strike (someone), particularly in the face, with a drinking glass with the intent of causing injury.

To bombard an area with such intensity (nuclear bomb, fusion bomb, etc) as to melt the landscape into glass.

(transitive) To view through an optical instrument such as binoculars.

(transitive) To smooth or polish (leather, etc.), by rubbing it with a glass burnisher.

To reflect; to mirror.

(transitive) To make glassy.

(intransitive) To become glassy.

A hard, brittle, translucent, and commonly transparent substance, white or colored, having a conchoidal fracture, and made by fusing together sand or silica with lime, potash, soda, or lead oxide. It is used for window panes and mirrors, for articles of table and culinary use, for lenses, and various articles of ornament.

Any substance having a peculiar glassy appearance, and a conchoidal fracture, and usually produced by fusion.

Anything made of glass.

A drinking vessel; a tumbler; a goblet; hence, the contents of such a vessel; especially; spirituous liquors; as, he took a glass at dinner.

To reflect, as in a mirror; to mirror; - used reflexively.

To case in glass.

To cover or furnish with glass; to glaze.

To smooth or polish anything, as leater, by rubbing it with a glass burnisher.

A brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure

A glass container for holding liquids while drinking

The quantity a glass will hold

A small refracting telescope

Amphetamine used in the form of a crystalline hydrochloride; used as a stimulant to the nervous system and as an appetite suppressant

A mirror; usually a ladies' dressing mirror

Glassware collectively;

Furnish with glass;

Scan (game in the forest) with binoculars

Enclose with glass;

Put in a glass container

Become glassy or take on a glass-like appearance;