devitrify: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “devitrify” mean?
to change from a glassy, transparent state to a crystalline, opaque state.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to change from a glassy, transparent state to a crystalline, opaque state.
To lose the characteristics of glass, becoming more brittle and crystalline; metaphorically, to lose vitality or clarity and become rigid.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or meaning differences. The term is uniformly technical.
Connotations
Neutral, technical process.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties, confined to specialised fields.
Grammar
How to Use “devitrify” in a Sentence
[Glass/Substance] devitrifies.[Heat/Time] causes [glass] to devitrify.[Something] is devitrified.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “devitrify” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- If cooled too slowly, the glass batch will devitrify, forming unwanted crystals.
- The ancient obsidian has begun to devitrify at the edges.
American English
- This glaze formula can devitrify if fired at the wrong temperature.
- Over geological time, the volcanic glass devitrified into feldspar.
adjective
British English
- The sample showed a devitrified surface layer.
- We examined the devitrified rim of the tektite.
American English
- The devitrified material was much more brittle.
- A devitrified zone indicated improper annealing.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Used in materials science papers discussing the stability of glasses or the conditions under which volcanic obsidian devitrifies.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Primary context. Refers to an undesirable process in glassmaking or a natural process in geology.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “devitrify”
- Confusing 'devitrify' (become crystalline) with 'vitrify' (become glassy). Incorrect: 'The lava vitrified into obsidian.' (Correct if it became glass; incorrect if it became crystalline).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a highly specialised term used almost exclusively in materials science, geology, and ceramics.
The direct opposite is 'vitrify', which means to convert or be converted into glass.
Rarely, but it is possible. For example, one might say 'The organisation's policies have devitrified, becoming rigid and opaque.' This extends the idea of losing a clear, fluid state.
It is primarily a verb. The related adjective is 'devitrified', as in 'a devitrified glass'.
to change from a glassy, transparent state to a crystalline, opaque state.
Devitrify is usually technical/scientific in register.
Devitrify: in British English it is pronounced /diːˈvɪtrɪfaɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /diˈvɪtrəˌfaɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: DE (remove) + VITR (like 'vitreous', meaning glassy) + IFY (to make). So, to 'de-vitrify' is to 'remove the glassy state'.
Conceptual Metaphor
Clarity/Transparency (vitreous state) turning into Rigidity/Cloudiness (crystalline state). Can metaphorically describe ideas or organisations losing flexibility and becoming rigid.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'devitrify'?