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crystalline

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Medical, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.03 sec.

crystalline

Like a crystal. It refers to a uniform atomic structure throughout the entire material. For example, the silicon in most integrated circuits is crystalline (see crystalline silicon). In phase change optical discs, the spots (bits) on the recording layer that are crystalline allow a greater reflection of the laser beam than do the amorphous spots, which have a random atomic structure. Contrast with amorphous. See nematic, phase change disc and phase change memory.

Crystalline Vs. Amorphous
This magnified UDO disc from Plasmon shows the less reflective amorphous (grey) and more reflective crystalline (light/dark) bits. The crystalline area is not a single crystal, but a multi-crystalline region. Due to different crystal alignments and interaction of the beam used to image the material, the reflective bits appear variously light and dark. The different sizes of bits are due to UDO's encoding method. (Image courtesy of Plasmon, www.plasmon.com)


crystalline
1. having the characteristics or structure of crystals
2. consisting of or containing crystals

crystalline [′kris·tə·lən]
(crystallography)
Of, pertaining to, resembling, or composed of crystals.


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Though in life it remains perfectly fluid, yet, upon exposure to the air, after death, it soon begins to concrete; sending forth beautiful crystalline shoots, as when the first thin delicate ice is just forming in water.
While the stars that oversprinkle All the heavens, seem to twinkle With a crystalline delight; Keeping time, time, time, In a sort of Runic rhyme, To the tintinnabulation that so musically wells From the bells, bells, bells, bells, Bells, bells, bells - From the jingling and the tinkling of the bells.
There was ivory in it, and some transparent crystalline substance.
 
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