critical

Definitions from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Etymology 1.3 Adjective 1.3.1 Derived terms 1.3.2 Related terms 1.3.3 Translations

[edit] English

Wikipedia

[edit] Pronunciation

IPA: /ˈkrɪtɪkəl/

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[edit] Etymology

From Ancient Greek κριτικός (kritikos) "of or for judging, able to discern" < κρίσις "crisis"

[edit] Adjective

critical (comparative more critical, superlative most critical)

1. Inclined to find fault or criticize; fastidious; captious; censorious; exacting.
2. Pertaining to, or indicating, a crisis, turning point, or specially important juncture.
3. Of the point (in temperature, reagent concentration etc.) where a nuclear or chemical reaction becomes self-sustaining.
4. Extremely important

   It's critical that you deliver this on time.

5. Relating to literary criticism and related kinds of criticism

   The movie was a critical success, but bombed at the box-office.

6. Likely to "runaway" if disturbed, that is, opposite of stable.

[edit] Derived terms

• criticality
• critically
• criticalness
• critical mass
• critical point

[edit] Related terms

• critic

[edit] Translations