crystallize

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. v. To cause to form crystals or assume a crystalline structure.
2. v. To give a definite, precise, and usually permanent form to: The scientists finally crystallized their ideas about the role of the protein.
3. v. To coat with crystals, as of sugar.
4. v. To assume a crystalline form.
5. v. To take on a definite, precise, and usually permanent form.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. To cause to assume a crystalline structure or shape; form into crystals: often used figuratively.
2. To change to the state of crystal.
3. To be converted into a crystal; unite, as the separate particles of a substance, and form a regular solid.
4. Figuratively— To assume a definite form and fixity, as an opinion, view, or idea, at first indeterminate or vague; take substantial and definite shape: as, public opinion on this subject is beginning to crystallize.
5. To assume (as a number of opinions, views, or ideas, at first unsettled or diverse) a definite form, and become concentrated upon or collected round a given subject.
6. Also spelled crystallise.

Wiktionary

1. v. transitive, chemistry, physics to make something form into crystals
2. v. intransitive to assume a crystalline form
3. v. transitive to give something a definite or precise form
4. v. intransitive to take a definite form
5. v. transitive to coat something with crystals, especially with sugar

GNU Webster's 1913

1. v. To cause to form crystals, or to assume the crystalline form.
2. v. To be converted into a crystal; to take on a crystalline form, through the action of crystallogenic or cohesive attraction; to precipitate from a solution in the form of crystals.

WordNet 3.0

1. v. cause to form crystals or assume crystalline form
2. v. assume crystalline form; become crystallized
3. v. cause to take on a definite and clear shape
4. v. make free from confusion or ambiguity; make clear