critical

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

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

   a critical attitude

2. 2
   adj

   characterized by careful evaluation and judgment

   a critical reading

3. 3
   adj

   being in or verging on a state of crisis or emergency

   a critical shortage of food

4. 4
   adj

   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

5. 5
   adj

   forming or having the nature of a turning point or crisis

   a critical point in the campaign

6. 6
   adj

   of or involving or characteristic of critics or criticism

   critical acclaim

7. 7
   adj

   Inclined to find fault or criticize.

   A good teacher is fair but critical.

8. 8
   adj

   Pertaining to, or indicating, a crisis or turning point.

   This is a critical moment.

Etymology

From Latin criticus + -al, from Ancient Greek κριτικός (kritikós, “of or for judging, able to discern”), from κρίνω (krínō, “to separate, judge”); also the root of crisis.