noncrystalline

IPA/ˌnɒnˈkrɪs.təl.aɪn/
IPA/ˌnɑːnˈkrɪs.təl.lən/

noncrystalline — adjective

  • noncrystallinepositive
  • more noncrystallinecomparative
  • most noncrystallinesuperlative

1. not formed from crystals and not having the regular internal pattern that crysta

1.adjectiveC2
Definition

not formed from crystals and not having the regular internal pattern that crystals have.

Example

The geologist identified noncrystalline glass in the volcanic sample.

noncrystalline + glass

This noncrystalline coating stays smooth because its atoms are not arranged in a repeating pattern.

noncrystalline + coating

Common collocations
  • noncrystalline solid
  • noncrystalline material
  • noncrystalline glass
  • noncrystalline structure
  • noncrystalline layer
  • noncrystalline alloy
Synonyms
  • amorphous

    common technical word for a solid that has no regular crystal structure

  • glassy

    used for some noncrystalline materials that behave like glass

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

noncrystalline + noun

be + noncrystalline

Usage Note

Noncrystalline is mainly a technical adjective in science and materials writing. It describes a solid, substance, or layer whose atoms or molecules are not arranged in the regular repeating pattern found in crystals.

Common Mistakes

Do not use noncrystalline just to mean unclear or cloudy. It describes physical structure, especially in solids and materials.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Noncrystalline is the direct technical opposite of crystalline: it says that a material does not have a regular crystal structure. Amorphous is a common technical synonym, especially for solids such as glass, plastics, and gels. Glassy is narrower and describes materials with glass-like noncrystalline behavior or appearance.

noncrystalline ↗amorphous ↗glassy ↗crystalline ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • noncrystalline structure
  • noncrystalline material
  • be noncrystalline

Etymology

English

Noncrystalline is formed from non- meaning 'not' and crystalline, which comes from crystal. It means not crystalline in structure.

First known use

1851

1851, in the meaning defined above