crystallize
gb/kɹˈɪstəlˌaɪz/ us/kɹˈɪstəlˌaɪz/
B2
English
kikristályosodik, letisztul, letisztáz, kikristályosít, kristályosodik, kristályosít, realizál, megszilárdul, rögzül
VERB
B2
1
letisztul
B2
Usage pattern:
[idea/plan/opinion] crystallizes (into [something])
After a few meetings, their ideas began to crystallize into a workable plan.
Néhány megbeszélés után az elképzeléseik kezdtek egy megvalósítható tervvé kikristályosodni.
As I read more about the topic, my opinion crystallized.
Ahogy egyre többet olvastam a témáról, kikristályosodott a véleményem.
By the end of the call, the problem had crystallized into two clear options.
Learner examples
My plan crystallized after I talked to my teacher.
Miután beszéltem a tanárommal, letisztult a tervem.
The idea crystallized into a simple list.
Az ötlet végül egy egyszerű listává kristályosodott ki.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse it for any 'become' situation; it is most natural for ideas, plans, decisions, or situations becoming clear.
Meaning
become clear and definite
Collocations
ideas crystallize
|plans crystallize
|thoughts crystallize
|a strategy crystallizes
|a decision crystallizes
|the issue crystallizes
|crystallize into a plan
|crystallize into a proposal
Synonyms
take shape (More informal and broader; not necessarily about clarity.)
|
clarify (Focuses on becoming clearer; can be used for explanations as well.)
Antonyms
blur (Move in the opposite direction, becoming less clear or distinct.)
|
remain vague (Stay unclear and not well defined.)
Themes
communication
|thinking
|work
Definition
To become clear and easy to understand.
To develop into a clear, definite, and well-formed idea, plan, or opinion.
VERB
C1
2
letisztáz
B2
Usage pattern:
crystallize [idea/plan/problem] (for [someone])
Writing the summary helped crystallize my thinking.
Az összefoglaló megírása segített letisztázni a gondolataimat.
The report crystallizes the main risks in one page.
A jelentés egy oldalon világossá teszi a fő kockázatokat.
A few examples can crystallize the difference for readers.
Learner examples
This chart crystallizes the idea.
Ez az ábra világossá teszi az ötletet.
Please help me crystallize my plan.
Kérlek, segíts letisztázni a tervemet.
Common mistake:
Often confused with 'crystalize' (misspelling). Also, it is usually used for ideas, not for physical objects in everyday speech.
Meaning
make an idea clear
Collocations
crystallize an idea
|crystallize a plan
|crystallize your thoughts
|crystallize the problem
|crystallize the key points
|help crystallize
|crystallize for the reader
Synonyms
pin down (More informal; emphasizes making something exact.)
|
articulate (Emphasizes expressing clearly in words.)
Antonyms
confuse (Make understanding less clear.)
|
muddy (Make details less distinct (often about an argument or explanation).)
Themes
communication
|thinking
|education
|work
Definition
To make something you think about clearer.
To make an idea, plan, or understanding clear, definite, and well organized.
VERB
C1
TECHNICAL
3
Usage pattern:
[substance] crystallizes (from/out of [solution])
As the solution cooled, the salt crystallized.
Ahogy az oldat lehűlt, a só kikristályosodott.
Sugar can crystallize if you stir the syrup as it cools.
A cukor kikristályosodhat, ha a szirupot hűlés közben megkevered.
The compound crystallized out of the solvent overnight.
Learner examples
The salt crystallized in the water.
A só kikristályosodott a vízből.
The solution crystallized when it cooled.
Az oldat kikristályosodott, amikor lehűlt.
Common mistake:
In science writing, learners may choose 'solidify' when the specific meaning is crystal formation; 'crystallize' highlights an ordered crystal structure.
Meaning
form crystals from a liquid
Collocations
crystallize from solution
|crystallize out of solution
|crystallize on cooling
|begin to crystallize
|readily crystallize
|slowly crystallize
|crystallize at room temperature
Synonyms
precipitate (Often used when a solid forms out of a solution; not always crystals.)
|
solidify (More general; does not specifically mean forming crystals.)
Antonyms
dissolve (Go into solution instead of forming crystals.)
|
melt (Change from solid to liquid rather than forming a solid.)
Themes
science
|chemistry
|materials
Definition
To become a solid with crystal shapes.
To form solid crystals as a substance cools, evaporates, or changes conditions, especially from a solution or melt.
VERB
C1
TECHNICAL
4
kristályosít
C1
Usage pattern:
crystallize [substance] (from [solution])
They crystallized the compound from ethanol to purify it.
A vegyületet etanolból kikristályosították, hogy megtisztítsák.
If you add a seed crystal, you can crystallize the sugar more quickly.
Ha hozzáadsz egy magkristályt, gyorsabban ki tudod kristályosítani a cukrot.
The technician crystallized the sample to analyze its structure.
Learner examples
We crystallized the salt from the water.
A sót kikristályosítottuk a vízből.
The lab crystallized the chemical to purify it.
A labor kikristályosította a vegyszert, hogy megtisztítsa.
Common mistake:
Learners may use 'crystallize' without an object when they mean the transitive sense (e.g., 'crystallize the sugar').
Meaning
cause a substance to crystallize
Collocations
crystallize a compound
|crystallize the product
|crystallize a solution
|crystallize salt
|crystallize sugar
|crystallize from ethanol
|crystallize by cooling
Synonyms
precipitate (Often implies causing a solid to form, sometimes by adding another chemical.)
Antonyms
dissolve (Cause a solid to go into solution rather than forming crystals.)
Themes
science
|chemistry
|cooking
|materials
Definition
To make crystals form from a liquid.
To make a substance form crystals, especially by controlling temperature, concentration, or evaporation.
VERB
C1
BUSINESS
5
realizál
B2
Usage pattern:
crystallize [gain/loss/profit] (by [doing something])
They sold part of the position to crystallize gains before the market turned.
Eladták a pozíció egy részét, hogy a piac fordulása előtt realizálják a nyereséget.
The fund crystallized losses at year-end for tax reasons.
Az alap év végén adózási okokból realizálta a veszteségeket.
If you don’t sell, the profit remains unrealized rather than crystallized.
Learner examples
She sold the shares to crystallize a profit.
Azért adta el a részvényeket, hogy realizálja a nyereséget.
They crystallized losses by selling the stock.
A részvény eladásával veszteséget realizáltak.
Common mistake:
Commonly confused with 'capitalize' or 'realize' in the sense 'understand'; in finance, 'realize' can also mean 'make real' by selling.
Meaning
realize a gain or loss
Collocations
crystallize gains
|crystallize a profit
|crystallize losses
|crystallize returns
|crystallize value
|crystallize a tax liability
|crystallize by selling
|crystallize on disposal
Synonyms
realize (More common in finance; also has an unrelated meaning 'understand'.)
|
lock in (More informal; emphasizes securing a profit (or loss).)
Antonyms
hold (Keep the position open so gains/losses remain unrealized.)
Themes
business
|finance
|investing
Definition
To make a profit or loss real by selling.
To make an increase or decrease in the value of an investment become real by selling it or otherwise closing the position.
VERB
C1
6
megszilárdul
B2
rögzül
B2
Usage pattern:
[attitude/belief/pattern] crystallizes
If conflicts aren’t addressed early, resentment can crystallize.
Ha a konfliktusokat nem kezelik időben, a neheztelés megszilárdulhat.
Over time, the team’s informal roles crystallized into a clear hierarchy.
Idővel a csapaton belüli informális szerepek világos hierarchiává szilárdultak.
By high school, her interests had crystallized and rarely changed.
Learner examples
His opinion crystallized and did not change.
A véleménye megszilárdult, és nem változott.
Their roles crystallized over time.
A szerepeik idővel rögzültek.
Common mistake:
This sense is about becoming fixed, not about becoming clearer; context usually involves attitudes, habits, or systems.
Meaning
become fixed and hard to change
Collocations
attitudes crystallize
|habits crystallize
|roles crystallize
|a pattern crystallizes
|views crystallize
|crystallize over time
|crystallize early
Synonyms
harden (More direct and often more negative; can sound less formal.)
|
solidify (Neutral; often used for agreements or positions becoming firm.)
Antonyms
remain flexible (Stay open to change rather than becoming fixed.)
|
soften (Become less strict or less fixed (often about attitudes).)
Themes
psychology
|society
|relationships
Definition
To become fixed and difficult to change.
To become firmly established and resistant to change, especially about habits, attitudes, or social patterns.
Grammar
Dictionary form
crystallize
IPA
GB/kɹˈɪstəlˌaɪz/
US/kɹˈɪstəlˌaɪz/
Syllables & stress
crys - tal - lize (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (crys)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: crystallize
- 3rd Person Singular: crystallizes
- Present Participle: crystallizing
- Past: crystallized
- Past Participle: crystallized
Word family
Forms
crystallizes
verb
crystallizing
verb
crystallized
verb
Core family
crystal
noun B1
crystallization
noun C1
Related words
crystalline
adjective
Expressions
crystallize around
1/kɹˈɪstəlˌaɪz ɚˈaʊnd/
fixed phrase
form around a central focus
To start to form around one main thing.
Examples
- Opposition quickly crystallized around the proposed tax increase.
- A strong team identity crystallized around their new coach.
- The debate crystallized around one key question: cost.
Learner examples
- Support crystallized around the new leader.
crystallize in (someone's) mind
1/kɹˈɪstəlˌaɪz ˈɪn sˈʌmwˌʌnz mˈaɪnd/
fixed phrase
become clear in someone's thoughts
To become clear in someone’s head.
Examples
- During the lecture, the solution crystallized in her mind.
- Only later did the danger crystallize in my mind.
- As he spoke, a new possibility crystallized in the committee’s mind.
Learner examples
- The answer crystallized in my mind.
crystallize into
1/kɹˈɪstəlˌaɪz ˈɪntu/
fixed phrase
develop into a clear form
To slowly become a clear thing or plan.
Examples
- Their discussions crystallized into a concrete proposal.
- The campaign’s message crystallized into three simple promises.
- Weeks of frustration crystallized into a decision to quit.
Learner examples
- The idea crystallized into a plan.
- The problem crystallized into two choices.
crystallize out (of)
1/kɹˈɪstəlˌaɪz ˈaʊt əv/
phrasal verb
technical
separate as crystals
To come out of a liquid as crystals.
Examples
- As the mixture cooled, a white solid crystallized out.
- Impurities stayed dissolved while the product crystallized out of the solvent.
- The salt crystallized out when the water evaporated.
Learner examples
- A solid crystallized out of the solution.