ˈkrɪtɪkəl adj. 1 a
making or involving
adverse or
censorious comments or judgements. b expressing or involving
criticism. 2
skilful at or
engaged in criticism. 3
providing textual criticism (a critical
edition of Milton). 4 a of or at a
crisis; involving
risk or
suspense (in a critical
condition; a critical operation). b
decisive,
crucial (of critical
importance; at
the critical moment). 5 a
Math. &
Physics marking transition from one state etc. to
another (critical angle). b Physics (of a
nuclear reactor) maintaining a
self-sustaining chain reaction. øcritical
apparatus = APPARATUS 4. critical mass Physics the
amount of
fissile material needed to
maintain a nuclear chain reaction. critical
path the
sequence of stages determining the
minimum time needed
for an
operation. critical
temperature Chem. the temperature
above which a
gas cannot be liquefied. øøcriticality n. (in
sense 5). critically adv. criticalness n. [L criticus: see CRITIC]
