crystallography

1 of 2

noun (1)

crys·​tal·​log·​ra·​phy ˌkri-stə-ˈlä-grə-fē How to pronounce crystallography (audio)
: a science that deals with the forms and structures of crystals
crystallographer
ˌkri-stə-ˈlä-grə-fər How to pronounce crystallography (audio)
noun

crystallographer

2 of 2

noun (2)

crys·​tal·​log·​ra·​pher ˌkri-stə-ˈlä-grə-fər How to pronounce crystallographer (audio)
plural -s
: a specialist in crystallography

Examples of crystallography in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
At that time, the structure of about 200,000 proteins had been determined by crystallography, costing billions of dollars. — Marc Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 10 June 2024 Scientists have made tremendous strides in determining the three-dimensional structures of these target proteins through x-ray crystallography and NMR. — Chuck Brooks, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024 The team used several advanced techniques — including X-ray crystallography, which analyzes the structure of molecules — to determine how hydralazine binds to ADO. — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 17 Nov. 2025 The breakthrough did not come until 1953, when Watson visited Wilkins at King’s College in London, and Wilkins showed him a new x-ray crystallography image of DNA. — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 7 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for crystallography

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

crystallo- + -graphy (after French cristallographie or New Latin crystallographia)

Noun (2)

crystallography + -er

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1784, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1788, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of crystallography was in 1784

Rhymes for crystallography

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Browse Nearby Words

crystallographic
crystallography
crystalloid
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Cite this Entry

“Crystallography.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crystallography. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

crystallography

noun
crys·​tal·​log·​ra·​phy ˌkris-tə-ˈläg-rə-fē How to pronounce crystallography (audio)
: a science that deals with the form and structure of crystals
crystallographer
-fər How to pronounce crystallography (audio)
noun

Medical Definition

crystallography

noun
crys·​tal·​log·​ra·​phy ˌkris-tə-ˈläg-rə-fē How to pronounce crystallography (audio)
plural crystallographies
: a science that deals with the forms and structures of crystals see x-ray crystallography
crystallographer
-fər How to pronounce crystallography (audio)
noun
crystallographic
-lə-ˈgraf-ik How to pronounce crystallography (audio)
adjective
crystallographically
-ik(ə-)lē How to pronounce crystallography (audio)
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on crystallography

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about crystallography

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