Critical - Definition

adj 1: marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors
and flaws; "a critical attitude" [ant: uncritical]
2: 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"; "go critical" [ant:
noncritical]
3: characterized by careful evaluation and judgment; "a critical
reading"; "a critical dissertation"; "a critical analysis of
Melville's writings" [ant: noncritical, uncritical]
4: urgently needed; absolutely necessary; "a critical element of
the plan"; "critical medical supplies"; "vital for a healthy
society"; "of vital interest" [syn: critical, vital]
5: forming or having the nature of a turning point or crisis; "a
critical point in the campaign"; "the critical test" [syn:
critical, decisive]
6: being in or verging on a state of crisis or emergency; "a
critical shortage of food"; "a critical illness"; "an illness
at the critical stage" [ant: noncritical, noncrucial]
7: of or involving or characteristic of critics or criticism;
"critical acclaim"