crystal
/ˈkrɪstl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkrɪstl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkri-stᵊl/ (ame, mw)
crystal — 名詞
1. a very clear, high-quality type of glass. Its surface is often cut into patterns
水晶玻璃
高品質透明玻璃，常雕刻花紋
a very clear, high-quality type of glass. Its surface is often cut into patterns that reflect light, and it is used to make drinking glasses, bowls, and decorative objects.
The dining table was set with crystal glasses that sparkled in the candlelight.
餐桌上擺著水晶玻璃杯，在燭光中閃閃發亮。
uncountable noun for glass material
Aunt Rosa brought out her crystal vase for the anniversary flowers.
Rosa 阿姨拿出她的水晶花瓶來插週年紀念的花。
A 19th-century crystal bowl from Bohemia sat in the museum's glass display case.
一只十九世紀波希米亞水晶碗靜靜地陳列在博物館的玻璃展示櫃中。
Minh spent his savings on crystal wine glasses for his sister’s wedding gift.
Minh 花光積蓄買了水晶酒杯，當作送給妹妹的結婚禮物。
- glass
much broader; ordinary glass is not cut or as clear as crystal
- lead crystal
specific type of crystal containing lead oxide for extra brilliance
用法筆記
As an uncountable noun, crystal refers to the material itself (“a vase made of crystal”). As a countable noun, it refers to a single object (“three crystal—” often ellipsis).
2. the transparent protective window positioned over a timepiece’s dial. It is made
錶面蓋
手錶或時鐘的透明保護蓋
the transparent protective window positioned over a timepiece’s dial. It is made from glass, acrylic, or synthetic sapphire and shields the hands and numerals from scratches, dust, and moisture.
The crystal on Ezra’s watch cracked after he bumped it against the door frame.
Ezra 的錶面蓋在撞到門框後裂開了。
A scratch on the crystal can make the whole watch face hard to read.
錶面蓋刮傷後，整只手錶就很難看清時間了。
definite article: the crystal (specific part of the watch)
Renata took her grandfather’s antique clock to have the crystal replaced.
Renata 把祖父的古董鐘拿去換新的錶面蓋。
Lukas cleaned the smudges off his dive watch’s crystal before checking the depth gauge.
Lukas 在查看深度計之前，先把潛水錶的錶面蓋擦乾淨。
- watch glass
less common; used mainly in older or technical descriptions
- face cover
non-technical description rather than a true synonym
用法筆記
In watch repair and sales contexts, “crystal” is the standard term for this part; “glass” is sometimes used informally.
3. a tiny, solid fragment of a chemical that has taken on an orderly, multi-sided s
結晶體
化學物質凝固後形成的有規則形狀的小塊
a tiny, solid fragment of a chemical that has taken on an orderly, multi-sided shape through natural processes. These fragments appear when a liquid freezes, a solution evaporates, or a vapour turns directly into a solid.
The lab technician watched sugar crystals form as the syrup cooled.
實驗室技術員看著糖漿冷卻後形成糖的結晶體。
Ife collected salt crystals from the edge of the dried-up tide pool.
Ife 從乾涸的潮池邊緣收集鹽的結晶體。
countable: individual crystal pieces
Snowflakes are beautiful crystals of ice that grow in the clouds.
雪花是冰在雲中形成的漂亮結晶體。
Under the microscope, the copper sulfate crystals looked like tiny blue diamonds.
在顯微鏡下，硫酸銅的結晶體看起來像小小的藍色鑽石。
用法筆記
This sense is the everyday meaning of crystals as small, visible, solid forms. Distinguish from sense 4, which describes the scientific atomic structure of any crystalline solid.
4. any solid substance in which atoms, molecules, or ions sit at fixed positions th
晶體結構
原子或分子呈規則排列的固體
any solid substance in which atoms, molecules, or ions sit at fixed positions that repeat in all three directions, forming a regular grid known as a lattice. Most metals, minerals, salts, and semiconductors belong to this category.
In physics class, the students learned how X-rays reveal the crystal structure of metals.
物理課上，學生們學習了 X 光如何揭示金屬的晶體結構。
A single crystal of silicon can be sliced into thin wafers for computer chips.
一片單晶矽可以切成薄片，用來製作電腦晶片。
countable: a single continuous piece with ordered structure
Diamonds and table salt are both crystals, though they look completely different.
鑽石和食鹽都是晶體，但它們看起來完全不同。
Using the lab’s X-ray machine, Dr. Sato saw how the crystal lattice controlled the mineral’s cracks.
Sato 博士用實驗室的 X 光機，看到晶格如何控制礦石的裂紋方向。
- crystalline solid
the formal scientific term; “crystal” is the shortened everyday form
- lattice structure
refers specifically to the repeating arrangement rather than the material itself
- amorphous solid
a solid whose atoms lack ordered arrangement, e.g. glass
用法筆記
Frequently used in scientific contexts: materials science, mineralogy, solid-state physics. The uncountable form (“crystal” as a category) is common: “The sample is a form of crystal.”
5. a clear, colourless mineral, most commonly quartz, that is cut and polished for
水晶礦石
透明無色礦物，常用於珠寶
a clear, colourless mineral, most commonly quartz, that is cut and polished for use in jewellery, ornaments, or believed by some to have healing or calming properties.
Padma wore a clear crystal pendant around her neck during the meditation retreat.
Padma 在冥想靜修時戴了一條透明水晶墜子的項鍊。
The shop sold crystal beads, amethysts, and polished stones from Brazil.
那家店賣水晶珠子、紫水晶和來自巴西的抛光石頭。
uncountable: crystal as a type of mineral material
Harper keeps a small crystal on her desk because she says it helps her focus.
Harper 在桌上放了一顆小水晶，說這能幫助她集中精神。
Geologists found a large quartz crystal deep inside the mountain cave.
地質學家在深山洞穴裡發現了一塊巨大的石英水晶。
- quartz
the specific mineral; crystal is a broader term that can include other minerals
- rock crystal
traditional name for colourless quartz used in jewellery
- gemstone
broader category; not all gemstones are clear or crystalline
用法筆記
When used uncountably (“set in crystal”), it refers to the mineral material. When countable (“a crystal”), it refers to a single cut or natural piece.
6. a slang term for the illegal drug methamphetamine, especially in its solid, crys
冰毒
甲基安非他命的俗稱，結晶狀毒品
a slang term for the illegal drug methamphetamine, especially in its solid, crystalline form that is smoked or injected.
The documentary followed three families in rural Tennessee whose sons had fallen into crystal addiction.
這部紀錄片跟拍了田納西州鄉村的三個家庭，他們的兒子都染上了冰毒。
Police in Marshall County reported that crystal-related arrests had doubled since the steel mill shut down.
Marshall 縣警方通報，自從鋼鐵廠關閉後，冰毒相關的逮捕案件增加了一倍。
informal register; compound adjective crystal-related
Caleb started smoking crystal after he lost his job at the lumber mill in Springfield.
Caleb 在 Springfield 的鋸木廠失業後，開始吸食冰毒。
The Cedar Ridge clinic in the valley treats forty patients weekly for crystal addiction.
山谷裡的 Cedar Ridge 診所每週治療四十名冰毒成癮患者。
- crystal meth
the full informal name; slightly more specific than “crystal” alone
- methamphetamine
the formal chemical name; neutral register
用法筆記
Always uncountable in this sense. Very informal and restricted to contexts about drug abuse, crime, and public health. Often appears in the compound “crystal meth.” Avoid in formal or polite conversation.
常見錯誤
7. a small, precisely cut piece of crystalline material, typically quartz, that vib
晶體元件
電子設備中用來控制頻率的晶體零件
a small, precisely cut piece of crystalline material, typically quartz, that vibrates at a stable frequency when electricity passes through it. Used in watches, radios, and computers to keep accurate time or control signals.
The quartz crystal inside Yuna’s digital watch vibrates 32,768 times every second to keep the time accurate.
Yuna 的數位手錶裡有一顆石英晶體，每秒振動 32768 次以保持時間精準。
The engineer replaced the damaged crystal on the circuit board to restore the signal.
工程師更換了電路板上受損的晶體元件，恢復了訊號。
definite article: the specific component on the board
Modern smartphones contain tiny crystals that keep the processor clock accurate.
現代智慧型手機內部有微小的晶體，讓處理器的時鐘保持準確。
Yuna ordered a batch of 16 MHz crystals for the robotics team’s new project.
Yuna 為機器人團隊的新計畫訂購了一批 16 MHz 的晶體元件。
- quartz oscillator
the complete device; “crystal” often refers to the resonator element alone
- timing crystal
emphasises its function of regulating time
用法筆記
Technical term in electronics. Also referred to as a “quartz crystal” or “timing crystal.” The frequency stability of the crystal makes it essential for precision timing.
crystal — 形容詞
1. extremely clear and transparent, like crystal glass; also used figuratively to d
清澈的
像水晶般透明純淨的
extremely clear and transparent, like crystal glass; also used figuratively to describe a sound, voice, or liquid that is perfectly pure and free of any cloudiness or distortion.
The mountain stream was so crystal clear that you could see every pebble on the bottom.
山間溪流清澈見底，連水底的小石子都看得一清二楚。
idiomatic phrase: crystal clear
Aylin’s crystal voice filled the concert hall without a microphone.
Aylin 清澈的歌聲不需要麥克風就充滿了整個音樂廳。
After the rain stopped, the evening sky above the village glowed a deep crystal blue.
雨停之後，村子上方的晚霞呈現出深邃清澈的晶藍色。
The old radio still produced a surprisingly crystal sound from its speakers.
這台老收音機的音質依然出奇地清澈。
- clear
much more common and general; not as vivid
- transparent
more formal; focuses on the property of letting light through
- limpid
literary; describes perfectly clear liquids, not commonly used
用法筆記
Used attributively before nouns. Compare with “crystal clear,” which is a set phrase for both literal and figurative meaning (“The instructions were crystal clear.”).
常見錯誤
2. relating to, made of, or involving crystal as a material or a scientific substan
晶體相關
以水晶材質或晶體性質爲主的
relating to, made of, or involving crystal as a material or a scientific substance.
The research team used a crystal detector to measure the purity of the mineral samples.
研究團隊用晶體探測器來測量礦物樣本的純度。
In Taipei, several shops sell crystal healing kits for meditation and stress relief.
在臺北，有幾家店鋪販售水晶療癒套組，供冥想和減壓使用。
compound noun: crystal healing
Henry read about how the crystal industry in East Asia supplies gemstones worldwide.
Henry 讀了一本關於東亞水晶產業如何供應全球寶石的書。
The magazine featured an article on crystal mining in Madagascar.
那本雜誌刊登了一篇關於馬達加斯加水晶礦業的文章。
- crystalline
more precise scientific adjective for the atomic structure
用法筆記
Less common than the noun form used attributively (“crystal vase”). This adjectival sense occurs in technical, industrial, or belief-system contexts.