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crystallize

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(kris′təl īz′)

transitive verb crystallized, crystallizing

to cause to form crystals or take on a crystalline structure
to give a definite form to
to coat with sugar

intransitive verb

to become crystalline in form
to take on a definite form: their customs crystallized into law

Related Forms:

crystallizable adjective
crystallization noun

See crystallize in American Heritage Dictionary 4

crys·tal·lize also crys·tal·ize

verb crystallized crys·tal·lized also crys·tal·ized, crystallizing crys·tal·liz·ing also crys·tal·iz·ing, crys·tal·liz·es also crys·tal·iz·es

verb, transitive

To cause to form crystals or assume a crystalline structure.
To give a definite, precise, and usually permanent form to: The scientists finally crystallized their ideas about the role of the protein.
To coat with crystals, as of sugar.

verb, intransitive