critical
♦♦ criti|cal /kr'ɪtɪkəl/
1 [ADJ]
A critical time, factor, or situation is extremely important.
The incident happened at a critical point in the campaign...
He says setting priorities is of critical importance...
How you finance a business is critical to the success of your venture.
= crucial
● critically [ADV] ADV with v, ADV adj
Economic prosperity depends critically on an open world trading system...
It was a critically important moment in his career.
2 [ADJ]
A critical situation is very serious and dangerous.
The German authorities are considering an airlift if the situation becomes critical...
Its day-to-day finances are in a critical state.
● critically [ADV] usu ADV adj
Moscow is running critically low on food supplies.
3 [ADJ]
If a person is critical or in a critical condition in hospital, they are seriously ill.
Ten of the injured are said to be in critical condition.
● critically [ADV] usu ADV adj, also ADV with v
She was critically ill...
4 [ADJ] oft ADJ of n
To be critical of someone or something means to criticize them.
His report is highly critical of the trial judge...
He has apologised for critical remarks he made about the referee.
● critically [ADV]
She spoke critically of Lara.
5 [ADJ] ADJ n
A critical approach to something involves examining and judging it carefully.
We need to become critical text-readers...
...the critical analysis of political ideas.
● critically [ADV]
Wyman watched them critically.
6 [ADJ] ADJ n
If something or someone receives critical acclaim, critics say that they are very good.
The film met with considerable critical and public acclaim...criti|cal mass
1 [N-SING] also no det
In physics, the critical mass of a substance is the minimum amount of it that is needed for a nuclear chain reaction. (TECHNICAL)
2 [N-SING] also no det
A critical mass of something is an amount of it that makes it possible for something to happen or continue.
Only in this way can the critical mass of participation be reached.
1 [ADJ]
A critical time, factor, or situation is extremely important.
The incident happened at a critical point in the campaign...
He says setting priorities is of critical importance...
How you finance a business is critical to the success of your venture.
= crucial
● critically [ADV] ADV with v, ADV adj
Economic prosperity depends critically on an open world trading system...
It was a critically important moment in his career.
2 [ADJ]
A critical situation is very serious and dangerous.
The German authorities are considering an airlift if the situation becomes critical...
Its day-to-day finances are in a critical state.
● critically [ADV] usu ADV adj
Moscow is running critically low on food supplies.
3 [ADJ]
If a person is critical or in a critical condition in hospital, they are seriously ill.
Ten of the injured are said to be in critical condition.
● critically [ADV] usu ADV adj, also ADV with v
She was critically ill...
4 [ADJ] oft ADJ of n
To be critical of someone or something means to criticize them.
His report is highly critical of the trial judge...
He has apologised for critical remarks he made about the referee.
● critically [ADV]
She spoke critically of Lara.
5 [ADJ] ADJ n
A critical approach to something involves examining and judging it carefully.
We need to become critical text-readers...
...the critical analysis of political ideas.
● critically [ADV]
Wyman watched them critically.
6 [ADJ] ADJ n
If something or someone receives critical acclaim, critics say that they are very good.
The film met with considerable critical and public acclaim...criti|cal mass
1 [N-SING] also no det
In physics, the critical mass of a substance is the minimum amount of it that is needed for a nuclear chain reaction. (TECHNICAL)
2 [N-SING] also no det
A critical mass of something is an amount of it that makes it possible for something to happen or continue.
Only in this way can the critical mass of participation be reached.