critical

critical [krit′i kəl]

adj.

1. tending to find fault; censorious

2. characterized by careful analysis and judgment [a sound critical estimate of the problem]

3. of critics or criticism

4. of or forming a crisis or turning point; decisive

5. dangerous or risky; causing anxiety [a critical situation in international relations]

6. of the crisis of a disease

7. designating or of important products or raw materials subject to increased production and restricted distribution under strict control, as in wartime

8.

a) designating or of a point at which a change in character, property, or condition is effected

b) designating or of the point at which a nuclear chain reaction becomes self-sustaining

SYN.- ACUTE

critically

adv.

criticality [krit′ikal′ə tē]

n.

criticalness

SYN.- CRITICAL, in its strictest use, implies an attempt at objective judging so as to determine both merits and faults [a critical review ], but it often (and HYPERCRITICAL, always) connotes emphasis on the faults or shortcomings; FAULTFINDING implies a habitual or unreasonable emphasis on faults or defects; CAPTIOUS suggests a characteristic tendency to find fault with, or argue about, even the pettiest details [a captious critic ]; CAVILING stresses the raising of quibbling objections on the most trivial points [a caviling grammarian ]; CARPING suggests peevishness, perversity, or censoriousness in seeking out faults