crystallisation
gb/kɹˈɪstəlɪsˈeɪʃən/ us/kɹˈɪstəlɪsˈeɪʃən/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
technical
C1
process
1
formation of crystals
when a substance becomes solid crystals
Usage pattern:
crystallisation of [substance] (from [solution/melt])
Common mistake:
Learners often misspell it as *crystalisation* (one 'l'), or mix it up with the US spelling *crystallization*.
Synonyms
crystal formation (A plain-language paraphrase of the process.)
|
solidification (Broader term; not necessarily into a crystal structure.)
|
precipitation (Often used when a solid forms from a solution, but not always as crystals.)
Antonyms
dissolution (Crystals or solids go into solution instead of forming.)
|
melting (A solid becomes liquid rather than forming crystals.)
Collocations
crystallisation occurs
|initiate crystallisation
|trigger crystallisation
|crystallisation from solution
|crystallisation of sugar
|salt crystallisation
|ice crystallisation
|crystallisation rate
|crystallisation temperature
|controlled crystallisation
Themes
science
|chemistry
|materials
Examples
- As the solution cooled, crystallisation began along the sides of the beaker.
- Rapid crystallisation can trap impurities inside the crystal lattice.
- The lab monitored the crystallisation of salt as the water evaporated.
Learner examples
- Crystallisation happens when crystals form.
- We waited for crystallisation in the solution.
Noun
technical
C2
process
2
purifying by forming crystals
a way to clean a substance by making crystals
Usage pattern:
crystallisation of [compound] (to remove [impurities])
Common mistake:
Learners may use *crystallisation* when they specifically mean *recrystallisation* (crystallising again for extra purification).
Synonyms
crystal purification (Emphasises the goal (purity) rather than the physical process.)
|
separation (Much broader; crystallisation is one specific separation technique.)
Antonyms
contamination (The opposite outcome: introducing impurities rather than removing them.)
Collocations
purification by crystallisation
|crystallisation step
|industrial crystallisation
|crystallisation unit
|crystallisation process
|batch crystallisation
|continuous crystallisation
|crystallisation for purification
|recover by crystallisation
|high-purity crystals
Themes
science
|chemistry
|manufacturing
Examples
- The final crystallisation removed most of the coloured impurities from the product.
- Crystallisation is used in industry to recover sugar from syrup.
- They added a seed crystal to make the crystallisation more predictable.
Learner examples
- Crystallisation can help purify a chemical.
Noun
formal
C1
process
3
becoming clear and definite
when ideas become clear and fixed
Usage pattern:
the crystallisation of [idea/plan/opinion]
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse it in casual speech; this figurative sense is more common in formal writing than in everyday conversation.
Synonyms
clarification (Focuses on becoming easier to understand, not necessarily becoming fixed.)
|
solidification (Metaphor for becoming firm; less about mental clarity.)
|
taking shape (More informal and less 'fixed' than crystallisation.)
Antonyms
confusion (Lack of clarity and definite form.)
|
vagueness (Not clearly defined or settled.)
Collocations
the crystallisation of ideas
|the crystallisation of a plan
|the crystallisation of views
|a moment of crystallisation
|lead to crystallisation
|help the crystallisation of
|crystallisation into a policy
|crystallisation of tensions
|crystallisation of identity
|crystallisation of opposition
Themes
thinking
|writing
|emotions
Examples
- The workshop led to the crystallisation of a workable strategy.
- A few tough questions prompted the crystallisation of her argument.
- The crisis accelerated the crystallisation of public opinion.
Learner examples
- The meeting helped the crystallisation of our plan.
Noun
technical
C2
entity
4
crystal deposit or mass
a layer or mass of crystals
Usage pattern:
a crystallisation of [substance] (on/in [place])
Common mistake:
This countable use (*a crystallisation*) is less common; learners may prefer 'crystals' or 'crystal deposit' in general writing.
Synonyms
crystal deposit (More transparent and common outside specialist writing.)
|
encrustation (Emphasises a crust on a surface; may not be strictly crystalline.)
Antonyms
solution (Material is dissolved rather than present as crystals.)
Collocations
a crystallisation forms
|surface crystallisation
|a white crystallisation
|salt crystallisation on
|crystallisation deposit
|crystallisation layer
|needle-like crystallisation
|a heavy crystallisation
|visible crystallisation
|patches of crystallisation
Themes
science
|chemistry
|materials
Examples
- A white crystallisation appeared around the rim after the liquid dried.
- The technician scraped off the crystallisation to weigh the product.
- You can see crystallisation on the surface where the brine seeped out.
Learner examples
- There was crystallisation on the glass.
Grammar
Dictionary form
crystallisation
IPA
GB/kɹˈɪstəlɪsˈeɪʃən/
US/kɹˈɪstəlɪsˈeɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
crys - tal - lisa - tion (4 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (crys)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: crystallisation
- Plural: crystallisations
Word family
Forms
crystallisations
noun
Core family
crystal
noun B1
crystallise
verb C1
Related words
Advanced or less common
recrystallise
verb
recrystallisation
noun
Expressions
crystallisation point
1/kɹˈɪstəlɪsˈeɪʃən pˈɔɪnt/
fixed phrase
technical
temperature crystals start forming
the temperature when crystals begin to form
Examples
- Impurities can lower the crystallisation point of a solution.
- The mixture was cooled slowly until it reached its crystallisation point.
fractional crystallisation
1/fɹˈækʃənəl kɹˈɪstəlɪsˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
separating by different crystallising points
separating substances because they form crystals at different times
Examples
- Fractional crystallisation can separate salts with similar properties.
- In geology, fractional crystallisation helps explain how magma changes composition as it cools.
heat of crystallisation
1/hˈit əv kɹˈɪstəlɪsˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
heat change during crystal formation
the heat change when crystals form
Examples
- The heat of crystallisation warmed the mixture slightly as the crystals formed.
- Engineers accounted for the heat of crystallisation when scaling up the process.
water of crystallisation
1/wˈɔtɚ əv kɹˈɪstəlɪsˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
water bound in crystals
water that is part of a crystal
Examples
- Heating the crystals drove off the water of crystallisation.
- Copper sulfate turns white when it loses its water of crystallisation.