French Conversation · Level 19
89 words
French word
cristalliser
Pronunciation
IPA/kʁistalize/
Meaning
- verbcrystallize
Example
Sous le froid, l'eau a commencé à cristalliser.
In the cold, the water began to crystallize.
More examples
Après la discussion, les positions ont commencé à cristalliser.
After the discussion, the positions began to crystallize.
Core concept
Particles lining up into a clear, fixed crystal, with a thought likewise taking definite shape.
Common phrases
se cristalliser
crystallize
cristalliser une idée
crystallize an idea
Similar words
se préciser: The content of an event or opinion gradually becomes clearer.
se clarifier: An unclear point becomes distinct and understandable.
se fixer: A date or condition becomes firmly established.
se figer: A process or situation suddenly stops and remains unchanged.
Definition in French
Passer à l'état de cristal en s'organisant ; par extension, prendre une forme définie ou se fixer.
Word origin
Cristalliser comes from cristal, borrowed through Latin crystallum from Greek krystallos, plus the French verb-forming suffix -iser.
Usage tips
- The pronominal form se cristalliser is common when an idea, conflict, or trend gradually takes a definite form.