51Թ

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View synonyms for

critical

[ krit-i-kuhl ]

adjective

  1. inclined to find fault or to judge with severity, often too readily:

    Parents who are too critical make their children anxious.

    Synonyms: , , ,

  2. involving criticism, or skillful judgment as to truth, merit, etc.:

    The article provides a critical analysis of the Gulf War.

    Synonyms: , , ,

  3. occupied with or skilled in criticism:

    She was one of the great critical journalists of the 20th century.

  4. of or relating to critics or criticism, especially of literature, film, music, etc.:

    Critical appreciation of this author’s work has peaked in recent years.

  5. providing textual variants, proposed emendations, etc.:

    The library has a new critical edition of Chaucer.

  6. of the nature of a crisis; threatening a seriously bad outcome; grave:

    There was a critical shortage of food.

  7. of decisive importance with respect to the outcome; crucial:

    The nation is facing a critical moment in its history.

  8. Cocoa butter is a critical ingredient in chocolate.

  9. Medicine/Medical. having unstable and abnormal vital signs and other unfavorable indicators, as loss of appetite, poor mobility, or unconsciousness:

    The patient has been upgraded from critical to stable.

  10. Physics.
    1. pertaining to a state, value, or quantity at which one or more properties of a substance or system undergo a change:

      The critical temperature of benzene is 289° C.

    2. (of fissionable material) having enough mass to sustain a chain reaction:

      They told us about a lab where some plutonium went critical.



critical

/ ˈɪɪə /

adjective

  1. containing or making severe or negative judgments
  2. containing careful or analytical evaluations

    a critical dissertation

  3. of or involving a critic or criticism
  4. of or forming a crisis; crucial; decisive

    a critical operation

  5. urgently needed

    critical medical supplies

  6. informal.
    so seriously injured or ill as to be in danger of dying
  7. physics of, denoting, or concerned with a state in which the properties of a system undergo an abrupt change

    a critical temperature

  8. go critical
    (of a nuclear power station or reactor) to reach a state in which a nuclear-fission chain reaction becomes self-sustaining
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈپԱ, noun
  • ˈپ, adverb
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • ··· adverb
  • ····ٲ [--krit-i-, kal, -i-tee], ···Ա noun
  • ·پ··· adjective
  • ԴDz··· adjective
  • ···· adjective
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of critical1

First recorded in 1580–90; critic + -al 1
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Some fans have been very critical of Max Muncy, who is off to a slow start.

From

Wylie, by all accounts, was well liked within the program and beloved by many players who viewed him as critical to their development.

From

In a highly critical report, the independent Climate Change Committee says progress is "either too slow, has stalled, or is heading in the wrong direction".

From

He was also faced with a powerful and often critical media.

From

Co-operation on defence and Canada's abundant critical minerals is also on the table.

From

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criticcritical angle