ˈkristəˌlīt noun
( -s )
Etymology: German kristallit, from kristall- crystall- + -it -ite
1.
a. : a minute mineral form like those common in glassy volcanic rocks and some slags usually not referable to any mineral species but marking the first step in the crystallization process
b. : a single grain in a polycrystalline medium ; also : a crystallographically homogeneous domain within such a grain
2.
a. : any part of a plant-cell wall in which the chain molecules of cellulose lie parallel
b. : micelle — used especially of the structural units of fibers (as cellulose) and other high polymers (as rubber)
c. : an oriented or crystalline region (as of high lateral order in natural and synthetic fibers)
• crys·tal·lit·ic | ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷|lid.ik adjective