crystall-

Crystall- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “crystal.” It is used in some scientific terms, especially in geology and mineralogy.

Crystall- comes from the Greek ���ý���ٲ������Dz�, meaning “clear ice, rock crystal,” source of the word crystal, as you may have guessed.

But did you guess the following? The Greek ���ý���ٲ������Dz� is related to ���ý�Dz�, meaning “ice cold” or “frost” and source of the combining form cryo-. Learn more in our Words That Use cryo- article.

Crystall- is a variant of crystallo-, which loses its –o– when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels. Another variant of crystallo- is crystalli-, as in crystalliferous.

Want to know more? Read our Words That Use crystallo- and crystalli- articles.

You may be familiar with the word crystallize, which means “to form into crystals.” By metaphorical extension, crystallize is also a verb meaning “to give definite or concrete form to” something, as in crystallizing idea.

The first part of the word, crystall-, means “crystal.” The second part of the word, the suffix -ize, is used to form verbs, including with the general sense of “to render, make.” So, crystallize literally translates “to make (into) crystals.”

������ are some words that use the combining form crystall-?

• crystallin
• crystalloid (using the equivalent form of crystall- in Greek)
• crystallite

������ are some other forms that crystall- may be commonly confused with?

• chrys-
• cry-
• cyan-

You may be familiar with the suffix -oid, meaning “resembling, like.” Given the meaning of crystal-, what does something crystalloid resemble?