critical
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
Contents |
[edit] English
[edit] Pronunciation
- IPA: /ˈkrɪtɪkəl/
- Audio (US)help, file
[edit] Etymology
From the suffix -al and Latin criticus < Ancient Greek κριτικός (kritikos), “‘of or for judging, able to discern’”) < (krinein) ('to separate, judge'; also the root of crisis)
[edit] Adjective
critical (comparative more critical, superlative most critical)
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Positive |
Comparative |
Superlative |
- Inclined to find fault or criticize; fastidious; captious; censorious; exacting.
- My teacher is very critical.
- Relating to criticism, such as literary or film criticism
- The movie was a critical success, but bombed at the box-office.
- Pertaining to, or indicating, a crisis or turning point
- This is a critical moment.
- Of the point (in temperature, reagent concentration etc.) where a nuclear or chemical reaction becomes self-sustaining.
- The reaction was about to become critical.
- Extremely important
- It's critical that you deliver this on time.
- (medicine) Of a condition with unstable vital signs and an unfavorable prognosis
- The patient's condition is critical.
- Likely to go out of control if disturbed, that is, opposite of stable.
- The political situation was so critical that the government declared the state of siege
[edit] Derived terms
Terms derived from critical
[edit] Related terms
[edit] Translations
inclined to find fault
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pertaining to or indicating a crisis
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of the point where a reaction becomes self-sustaining
extremely important
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
[edit] See also
Medical state on Wikipedia.Wikipedia:Medical state
