crystallise
gb/kɹˈɪstəlɪs/ us/kɹˈɪstəlɪs/
B2
English
kikristályosodik, letisztul, kikristályosít, világossá tesz, kristályosodik, kristályosít, átkristályosít, bekristályosodik
VERB
C1
1
letisztul
B2
Usage pattern:
[idea/plan/situation] crystallises
After a few meetings, the main issues began to crystallise.
Néhány megbeszélés után a fő kérdések kezdtek kikristályosodni.
Her thoughts crystallised as she wrote the first paragraph.
A gondolatai az első bekezdés írása közben kikristályosodtak.
Over time, public opinion crystallised around two competing views.
Learner examples
My plan crystallised after I talked to my teacher.
A tanárommal való beszélgetés után kikristályosodott a tervem.
The idea crystallised slowly.
Az ötlet lassan kristályosodott ki.
Common mistake:
In American English the usual spelling is crystallize.
Meaning
become clear and definite
Collocations
ideas crystallise
|a plan crystallises
|a strategy crystallises
|a decision crystallises
|thoughts crystallise
|the situation crystallises
|gradually crystallise
|begin to crystallise
Synonyms
take shape (more informal and visual.)
|
clarify (focuses on becoming easier to understand.)
|
solidify (emphasises becoming firm or fixed.)
Antonyms
blur (to become less clear or distinct.)
|
confuse (to become harder to understand.)
Themes
thinking
|communication
|work
Definition
to become clear and certain
To become clear, definite, and well understood, especially after a period of uncertainty or gradual development.
VERB
C1
2
Usage pattern:
crystallise [an idea/plan/decision]
The report helped crystallise the risks for investors.
A jelentés segített világossá tenni a befektetők számára a kockázatokat.
A good diagram can crystallise a complex process.
Egy jó ábra világossá tud tenni egy összetett folyamatot.
The conversation crystallised what each team needed to deliver.
Learner examples
Writing notes crystallised my ideas.
A jegyzetelés letisztázta az ötleteimet.
The example crystallised the rule for me.
A példa világossá tette számomra a szabályt.
Common mistake:
Don’t use it for making something physically clean; it means making an idea or plan clear.
Meaning
make something clear and definite
Collocations
crystallise an idea
|crystallise a plan
|crystallise a strategy
|crystallise a proposal
|crystallise a decision
|help crystallise
|serve to crystallise
|crystallise the argument
Synonyms
clarify (more common and less metaphorical.)
|
define (emphasises setting clear limits or meaning.)
|
pin down (more informal; emphasises precision.)
Antonyms
muddy (to make something less clear.)
|
obscure (to hide or make harder to understand.)
Themes
thinking
|communication
|business
Definition
to make something clear and fixed
To make an idea, plan, or situation clear, definite, and easier to understand or act on.
VERB
C1
TECHNICAL
3
Usage pattern:
[substance/solution] crystallises
As the solution cooled, the salt began to crystallise.
Ahogy az oldat lehűlt, a só kristályosodni kezdett.
At lower temperatures the mixture crystallises more readily.
Alacsonyabb hőmérsékleten a keverék könnyebben kristályosodik.
If left undisturbed, the compound will crystallise overnight.
Learner examples
The salt crystallised when the water cooled.
A só kikristályosodott, amikor a víz lehűlt.
Common mistake:
This is about crystal formation (often from a solution), not about glass or “crystal” as a material.
Meaning
form crystals from a liquid
Collocations
begin to crystallise
|crystallise rapidly
|crystallise slowly
|crystallise at room temperature
|crystallise on cooling
|the solution crystallises
|the melt crystallises
Synonyms
solidify (broader; not necessarily into crystals.)
|
precipitate (often used when a solid forms from solution; more technical.)
Antonyms
dissolve (to go into solution rather than forming a solid.)
|
melt (to change from solid to liquid.)
Themes
science
|materials
|food
Definition
to form small hard crystals
To change from a liquid or dissolved state into crystals.
VERB
C1
TECHNICAL
4
kristályosít
C1
Usage pattern:
crystallise [a substance] (from [a solution])
They crystallised the compound from ethanol to purify it.
A vegyületet etanolból kristályosították ki, hogy megtisztítsák.
Cooling the mixture crystallised the sugar.
A keverék lehűtése kikristályosította a cukrot.
The technique crystallises proteins for X-ray analysis.
Learner examples
We crystallised the salt from water.
A sót vízből kristályosítottuk ki.
Common mistake:
Often used in passive voice in lab contexts (e.g., “was crystallised from ethanol”).
Meaning
cause crystals to form
Collocations
crystallise a compound
|crystallise a solution
|crystallise from ethanol
|crystallise from water
|crystallise by cooling
|crystallise by evaporation
|successfully crystallise
Synonyms
precipitate (emphasises forcing a solid out of solution; may not imply crystals.)
|
solidify (broader; does not specify crystal structure.)
Antonyms
dissolve (to make a solid go into solution.)
Themes
science
|materials
|food
Definition
to make a substance form crystals
To cause a substance to form crystals, especially by cooling it or letting a solution evaporate.
VERB
C2
TECHNICAL
5
kristályosít
C1
Usage pattern:
crystallise [a substance] (out of [a solution])
The chemist crystallised the product to remove impurities.
A vegyész átkristályosította a terméket, hogy eltávolítsa a szennyeződéseket.
The compound was crystallised to a high level of purity.
A vegyületet nagyfokú tisztaság eléréséig átkristályosították.
They struggled to crystallise the material without trapping solvent.
Common mistake:
Not the same as “clarify” (make clear); this is a lab purification method.
Meaning
purify by crystallisation
Collocations
crystallise a product
|crystallise the material
|crystallise impurities out
|crystallise out of solution
|recrystallise and crystallise
|crystallise to purity
Synonyms
recrystallise (specifically to crystallise again for extra purification.)
|
purify (general word without specifying the method.)
Antonyms
contaminate (to make less pure.)
Themes
science
|chemistry
Definition
to purify something by making crystals
To obtain a pure substance by forming crystals from a solution and separating them from the remaining liquid.
VERB
B2
6
Usage pattern:
[honey/syrup/sugar] crystallises
Honey may crystallise in cold weather, but it’s still safe to eat.
A méz hideg időben bekristályosodhat, de ettől még biztonságosan fogyasztható.
If you stir the syrup too much, it can crystallise and turn grainy.
Ha túl sokat kevered a szirupot, bekristályosodhat, és szemcséssé válhat.
The caramel crystallised because a few sugar grains stuck to the side of the pan.
Learner examples
My honey crystallised in the fridge.
A mézem bekristályosodott a hűtőben.
Common mistake:
In cooking this is usually not the same as ‘set’; it specifically means forming sugar crystals and becoming grainy.
Meaning
become grainy like crystals
Collocations
honey crystallises
|syrup crystallises
|the sugar crystallises
|crystallise in the jar
|crystallise in the pan
|prevent it from crystallising
|has crystallised
Synonyms
granulate (emphasises becoming grainy; less common in everyday cooking talk.)
Antonyms
smooth out (to become smooth again.)
Themes
food
|cooking
Definition
to become grainy with sugar crystals
(Of a sweet liquid such as honey, syrup, or melted sugar) to form small sugar crystals, becoming grainy rather than smooth.
Grammar
Dictionary form
crystallise
IPA
GB/kɹˈɪstəlɪs/
US/kɹˈɪstəlɪs/
Syllables & stress
crys - tal - lise (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (crys)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: crystallise
- 3rd Person Singular: crystallises
- Present Participle: crystallising
- Past: crystallised
- Past Participle: crystallised
Word family
Forms
crystallises
verb
crystallising
verb
crystallised
verb
Core family
Related words
crystallize
verb B2
crystallization
noun C1
Expressions
crystallise around
1/kɹˈɪstəlɪs ɚˈaʊnd/
fixed phrase
form centred on something
to form with one main focus
Examples
- Support quickly crystallised around the new candidate.
- The debate crystallised around a single question: who should pay?
- A strong team culture crystallised around their shared goals.
Learner examples
- The discussion crystallised around one issue.
crystallise into
1/kɹˈɪstəlɪs ˈɪntu/
fixed phrase
develop into a clear form
to become something clear and definite
Examples
- Their early discussions crystallised into a workable plan.
- Anger crystallised into determination.
- The vague proposal crystallised into three concrete options.
Learner examples
- The idea crystallised into a plan.
crystallise out (of)
1/kɹˈɪstəlɪs ˈaʊt əv/
phrasal verb
technical
separate as crystals
to come out of a liquid as crystals
Examples
- On cooling, the solute crystallised out of the solution.
- Excess salt can crystallise out and collect at the bottom of the container.
- If the concentration is too high, crystals may crystallise out unexpectedly.