crystals

crystals — noun

1. small hard pieces that appear when a liquid or melted substance turns solid in a

1.名詞B1
釋義

small hard pieces that appear when a liquid or melted substance turns solid in a regular pattern

例句

Sugar crystals clung to the rim of Camille's jam jar.

sugar crystals — common food context

Tiny ice crystals spread across the car window before dawn.

ice crystals — weather and surface context

同義詞
  • granules

    small hard pieces, but they are usually less sharply shaped than crystals

  • grains

    tiny separate bits, often of sand or sugar, without the regular geometric form

  • flakes

    thin flat pieces rather than solid angular pieces

反義詞
  • liquid

    the substance before it has formed solid pieces

用法筆記

Usually refers to several visible pieces together, such as sugar crystals or ice crystals. Use crystal in the singular when you mean one piece only.

常見錯誤

❌There was sugar crystals on the spoon.
✅There were sugar crystals on the spoon.
💡Crystals is plural, so the verb must agree.

2. clear pieces of natural quartz that people wear, collect, or use for decoration

2.名詞B1
釋義

clear pieces of natural quartz that people wear, collect, or use for decoration

例句

Kenji bought polished crystals to make a simple necklace for his sister.

polished crystals — jewellery use

The shop displayed pink and clear crystals beside the silver rings.

同義詞
  • rock crystal

    a more exact term for clear natural quartz

  • gemstones

    broader because not all gemstones are quartz crystals

  • healing stones

    a commercial or spiritual label, not a scientific one

用法筆記

Common in shop labels, hobby writing, and casual conversation about decorative stones. When the mineral type matters in science, quartz is more exact than crystals.

3. solid materials whose atoms line up in a repeating pattern, giving them a fixed

3.名詞B2
釋義

solid materials whose atoms line up in a repeating pattern, giving them a fixed inner structure

例句

In science class, Tara sorted crystals by the shape of their faces.

shape of crystal faces — science description

Engineers use quartz crystals when a device needs steady timing.

quartz crystals in electronics

同義詞
反義詞
  • amorphous solids

    solids whose particles are not arranged in a repeating crystal pattern

用法筆記

Used in science, medicine, and engineering. Unlike sense 1, this sense focuses on the ordered material itself, not simply on a few visible pieces.

4. decorative objects made from very fine clear glass, often cut so they catch and

4.名詞B2
釋義

decorative objects made from very fine clear glass, often cut so they catch and reflect light

例句

The ballroom lights flashed across the crystals on the old chandelier.

chandelier crystals — decorative glass pieces

Mert wrapped the crystals carefully before moving the dining-room lamp.

同義詞
  • cut glass

    the usual material term; it can describe the same decorative objects

  • glass ornaments

    broader because they may be coloured or not crystal quality

  • chandelier drops

    more specific to the hanging pieces on a light fitting

用法筆記

Often appears with chandelier, lamp, bowl, or glass. Distinguish this sense from sense 2, which refers to natural stone rather than cut glass.

5. clear covers fixed over the face of watches or clocks to protect the dial

5.名詞C1
釋義

clear covers fixed over the face of watches or clocks to protect the dial

例句

The repair shop replaced the cracked crystals on two vintage watches.

replace cracked watch crystals

Jude cleaned the brass clocks and polished their cloudy crystals.

同義詞
  • watch glasses

    another repair term for the same protective cover

  • clock covers

    clearer for learners, but less fixed as a technical label

用法筆記

Mostly used by repair shops, collectors, and people describing older watches and clocks. In ordinary conversation, many speakers simply say glass instead.

6. small hard pieces of methamphetamine sold as an illegal stimulant drug

6.名詞C1
釋義

small hard pieces of methamphetamine sold as an illegal stimulant drug

例句

Police found bags of crystals hidden under the driver's seat.

bags of crystals — illegal drug context

The health poster warned that crystals can cause severe addiction.

同義詞
  • crystal meth

    the fuller and more widely understood label

  • meth

    short everyday form for the same drug

  • ice

    another street name used in some varieties of English

用法筆記

Informal and strongly linked to illegal drug use. In careful writing, people often say crystal meth or methamphetamine instead.