crystal ball

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crystal ball

n.
1. A globe of quartz crystal or glass in which images, especially those believed to portend the future, are supposedly visible to fortune tellers.
2. A vehicle or technique for making predictions.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

crystal ball

n
(Alternative Belief Systems) the glass globe used in crystal gazing
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

crys′tal ball′


n.
1. a glass ball used in crystal gazing.
2. a method or means of predicting the future.
[1850–55]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.crystal ball - a glass or crystal globe used in crystal gazing by fortunetellerscrystal ball - a glass or crystal globe used in crystal gazing by fortunetellers
globe, orb, ball - an object with a spherical shape; "a ball of fire"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
كُرة بلّورية
křišťálová koule
krystalkugle
kristallipallo
kristálygömb
kristalkúla, spákúla
kristal küre

crystal ball

nsfera di cristallo
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

crystal

(ˈkristl) noun
1. a small part of a solid substance (eg salt or ice) which has a regular shape.
2. a special kind of very clear glass. This bowl is made of crystal.
ˈcrystalline (-lain) adjective
(of minerals etc) formed into crystals. Salt is a crystalline substance.
ˈcrystallize, ˈcrystallise verb
1. to form (into) crystals. He crystallized the salt from the sea water.
2. to cover with a coating of sugar crystals. crystallized fruits.
3. to make or become definite or clear. He tried to crystallize his ideas.
ˌcrystalliˈzation, ˌcrystalliˈsation noun
crystal ball
a glass ball used in fortune-telling.
crystal clear
absolutely clear. My instructions were crystal clear.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
References in periodicals archive ?
To faciliate his crimes, White carried with him a small black leather pouch that contained a crucifix, a pack of John Waddington playing cards and a pair of crystal balls, one of which stood on a star-shaped crystal base.
Take this to its conclusion and we can see a future where Cabinet meetings are guided by mysterious ladies with crystal balls, and ministers consult their astrologers before changing their policies.
Her audience, on the other hand, take the spirit world very seriously - hunting for poltergeists and believing in crystal balls.
PUPILS from schools across Newcastle have swapped science for crystal balls to predict what the city will look like in 2020.
Those who seek the future in crystal balls must get used to crushed glass.
Industry leaders looked into their crystal balls for 2005 and saw greater public exposure and closer scrutiny by the federal government.
Well, despite some miscalculations by others, it still is important for us to peer into our crystal balls (however cloudy they may be) or read the tea leaves (however confusing they may be) and try to discern the future.
The Year Ahead--We ask some of our favorite pundits to look into their crystal balls and tell us what they see for Japan in 2003.