critical

Definitions

1. 1noun

   Qualified to criticise, or pass judgment upon, literary or artistic productions.

2. 2noun

   Pertaining to criticism or the critic's art; of the nature of a criticism; accurate; as, critical knowledge; a critical dissertation.

3. 3noun

   Inclined to make nice distinctions, or to exercise careful judgment and selection; exact; nicely judicious.

4. 4noun

   Inclined to criticise or find fault; fastidious; captious; censorious; exacting.

5. 5noun

   Characterized by thoroughness and a reference to principles, as becomes a critic; as, a critical analysis of a subject.

6. 6noun

   Pertaining to, or indicating, a crisis, turning point, or specially important juncture; important as regards consequences; hence, of doubtful issue; attended with risk; dangerous; as, the critical stage of a fever; a critical situation.

7. 7adjective

   marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws

   "a critical attitude"

8. 8adjective

   characterized by careful evaluation and judgment

   "a critical reading"

   "a critical dissertation"

9. 9adjective

   being in or verging on a state of crisis or emergency

   "a critical shortage of food"

   "a critical illness"

10. 10adjective

    at or of a point at which a property or phenomenon suffers an abrupt change especially having enough mass to sustain a chain reaction

    "a critical temperature of water is 100 degrees C--its boiling point at standard atmospheric pressure"

    "critical mass"

11. 11adjective

    forming or having the nature of a turning point or crisis

    "a critical point in the campaign"

    "the critical test"

    Synonyms

    decisive
12. 12adjective

    urgently needed; absolutely necessary

    "a critical element of the plan"

    "critical medical supplies"

    Synonyms

    vital
13. 13adjective

    of or involving or characteristic of critics or criticism

    "critical acclaim"